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Single Idea 18081

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 5. The Infinite / k. Infinitesimals ]

Full Idea

Nature uses the infinite in everything it does.

Gist of Idea

Nature uses the infinite everywhere

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (works [1690]), quoted by Philip Kitcher - The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge 10.1

Book Ref

Kitcher,Philip: 'The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge' [OUP 1984], p.236

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A Reaction

[The quote can be tracked through Kitcher's footnote] He seems to have had in mind the infinitely small.