back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 10215

[from 'Philosophy of Mathematics' by Stewart Shapiro, in 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 1. Mathematical Platonism / a. For mathematical platonism ]

Full Idea

The Platonist view may be that one can state the essence of each number, without referring to the other numbers.

Gist of Idea

Platonists claim we can state the essence of a number without reference to the others

Source

Stewart Shapiro (Philosophy of Mathematics [1997], 3.1)

Book Reference

Shapiro,Stewart: 'Philosophy of Mathematics:structure and ontology' [OUP 1997], p.72


A Reaction

Frege certainly talks this way (in his 'borehole' analogy). Fine, we are asked to spell out the essence of some number, without making reference either to any 'units' composing it, or to any other number adjacent to it or composing it. Reals?