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Single Idea 10054

[from 'Meditations' by René Descartes, in 5. Theory of Logic / C. Ontology of Logic / 3. If-Thenism ]

Full Idea

Arithmetic, geometry and sciences of that kind only treat of things without taking any great trouble to ascertain whether they are actually existent or not, and contain some measure of certainty.

Gist of Idea

Arithmetic and geometry achieve some certainty without worrying about existence

Source

René Descartes (Meditations [1641], §1), quoted by Alan Musgrave - Logicism Revisited §4

Book Reference

-: 'British Soc for the Philosophy of Science' [-], p.110


A Reaction

This is Musgrave's earliest quotation which seems to take the if-thenist view.