more from James Robert Brown

Single Idea 9629

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 7. Formalism]

Full Idea

For the instinctive nominalist in mathematics, there are no numbers, only numerals.

Gist of Idea

For nomalists there are no numbers, only numerals

Source

James Robert Brown (Philosophy of Mathematics [1999], Ch. 5)

Book Reference

Brown,James Robert: 'Philosophy of Mathematics' [Routledge 2002], p.62


A Reaction

Maybe. A numeral is a specific sign, sometimes in a specific natural language, so this seems to miss the fact that cardinality etc are features of reality, not just conventions.