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Single Idea 16890

[from 'Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations)' by Gottlob Frege, in 6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 5. Definitions of Number / c. Fregean numbers ]

Full Idea

The worry with the attempt to derive arithmetic from general logical laws (which is required for it to be analytic apriori) is that it is incompatible with the particularity of numbers.

Gist of Idea

Frege's problem is explaining the particularity of numbers by general laws

Source

report of Gottlob Frege (Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations) [1884], §13) by Tyler Burge - Frege on Apriority (with ps) 1

Book Reference

Burge,Tyler: 'Truth, Thought, Reason (on Frege)' [OUP 2001], p.360


A Reaction

Burge cites §13 (end) of Grundlagen, and then the doomed Basic Law V as his attempt to bridge the gap from general to particular.

Related Idea

Idea 16889 A truth is a priori if it can be proved entirely from general unproven laws [Frege]