more from Michael Dummett

Single Idea 10549

[catalogued under 18. Thought / E. Abstraction / 7. Abstracta by Equivalence]

Full Idea

Since we cannot pick an abstract object out from its surrounding, all that we need to master is the use of statements of identity between objects of a certain kind.

Gist of Idea

Since abstract objects cannot be picked out, we must rely on identity statements

Source

Michael Dummett (Frege Philosophy of Language (2nd ed) [1973], Ch.14)

Book Reference

Dummett,Michael: 'Frege Philosophy of Language' [Duckworth 1981], p.498


A Reaction

This is the necessary Fregean preliminary to using a principle of abstraction to identify two objects which are abstract (when the two objects are in an equivalence relation). Presumably circular squares and square circles are identical?