more from Philip Kitcher

Single Idea 18067

[catalogued under 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 2. Abstract Objects / b. Need for abstracta]

Full Idea

The original introduction of abstract objects was a bad way of doing justice to the insight that mathematics is concerned with structure.

Gist of Idea

Abstract objects were a bad way of explaining the structure in mathematics

Source

Philip Kitcher (The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge [1984], 06.1)

Book Reference

Kitcher,Philip: 'The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge' [OUP 1984], p.107


A Reaction

I'm a fan of explanations in metaphysics, and hence find the concept of 'bad' explanations in metaphysics particularly intriguing.