back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 17429

[from 'Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations)' by Gottlob Frege, in 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 4. Using Numbers / a. Units ]

Full Idea

It is Frege's view that only concepts which satisfy isolation and non-arbitrary division can play the role of dividing up what falls under them into countable units.

Gist of Idea

Frege says only concepts which isolate and avoid arbitrary division can give units

Source

report of Gottlob Frege (Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations) [1884], §54) by Kathrin Koslicki - Isolation and Non-arbitrary Division 2.1

Book Reference

-: 'Synthese' [-], p.406


A Reaction

Compare Idea 17429. If I count out a 'team of players', I need this unit concept to get what a 'player' is, but then need the 'team' concept to do the counting. Number doesn't attach to the unit concept.

Related Ideas

Idea 17426 A concept creating a unit must isolate and unify what falls under it [Frege]

Idea 17428 Frege says counting is determining what number belongs to a given concept [Frege, by Koslicki]

Idea 17429 Frege says only concepts which isolate and avoid arbitrary division can give units [Frege, by Koslicki]