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Single Idea 17437

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

Full Idea

Non-arbitrary division concerns the internal structure of the things falling under a concept. Its point is to ensure that we cannot go on dividing these units arbitrarily and still expect to find more things of the same kind.

Gist of Idea

Non-arbitrary division means that what falls under the concept cannot be divided into more of the same

Source

report of Gottlob Frege (Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations) [1884]) by Kathrin Koslicki - Isolation and Non-arbitrary Division 2.3

Book Reference

-: 'Synthese' [-], p.418


A Reaction

Counting something red is given as an example. This seems to define mass-terms, or stuff.

Related Ideas

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

Idea 12844 Dissective: stuff is dissective if parts of the stuff are always the stuff [Simons]