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Single Idea 17434

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 4. Using Numbers / d. Counting via concepts ]

Full Idea

The reason we have a hard time counting the branches and the waves is because our concepts 'branches on the tree' and 'waves on the ocean' do not determine sufficiently precise boundaries: the concepts do not draw a clear invisible line around each thing.

Gist of Idea

We struggle to count branches and waves because our concepts lack clear boundaries

Source

Kathrin Koslicki (Isolation and Non-arbitrary Division [1997], 2.2)

Book Ref

-: 'Synthese' [-], p.413


A Reaction

This is the 'isolation' referred to in Frege.

Related Idea

Idea 17426 A concept creating a unit must isolate and unify what falls under it [Frege]