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Single Idea 8489

[filed under theme 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 3. Objects in Thought ]

Full Idea

I regard a regular definition of 'object' as impossible, since it is too simple to admit of logical analysis. Briefly: an object is anything that is not a function, so that an expression for it does not contain any empty place.

Gist of Idea

The concept 'object' is too simple for analysis; unlike a function, it is an expression with no empty place

Source

Gottlob Frege (Function and Concept [1891], p.32)

Book Ref

Frege,Gottlob: 'Translations from the Writings of Gottlob Frege', ed/tr. Geach,P/Black,M [Blackwell 1980], p.32

A Reaction

Here is the core of the programme for deriving our ontology from our logic and language, followed through by Russell and Quine. Once we extend objects beyond the physical, it becomes incredibly hard to individuate them.

The 15 ideas with the same theme [objects as conceptual entities used in reasoning]:

9825 A thing is completely determined by all that can be thought concerning it [Dedekind]
10535 Frege's 'objects' are both the referents of proper names, and what predicates are true or false of [Frege, by Dummett]
8489 The concept 'object' is too simple for analysis; unlike a function, it is an expression with no empty place [Frege]
8785 For Frege, objects just are what singular terms refer to [Frege, by Hale/Wright]
10278 Without concepts we would not have any objects [Frege, by Shapiro]
9877 Late Frege saw his non-actual objective objects as exclusively thoughts and senses [Frege, by Dummett]
8718 Meinong says an object need not exist, but must only have properties [Meinong, by Friend]
8971 There are objects of which it is true that there are no such objects [Meinong]
21536 When I perceive a melody, I do not perceive the notes as existing [Russell]
7781 I call an object of thought a 'term'. This is a wide concept implying unity and existence. [Russell]
22320 An 'object' is just what can be referred to without possible non-existence [Wittgenstein]
10796 If objects are thoughts, aren't we back to psychologism? [Marcus (Barcan)]
10531 There is a modern philosophical notion of 'object', first introduced by Frege [Dummett]
9202 Objects, as well as sentences, can have logical form [Fine,K]
8263 An object is an entity which has identity-conditions [Lowe]