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Single Idea 17811

[from 'Hilbert's Programme' by Georg Kreisel, in 27. Natural Reality / C. Space / 3. Points in Space ]

Full Idea

In analysis, the most natural conception of a point ignores the matter of naming the point, i.e. how the real number is represented or by what constructions the point is reached from given points.

Gist of Idea

The natural conception of points ducks the problem of naming or constructing each point

Source

Georg Kreisel (Hilbert's Programme [1958], 13)

Book Reference

'Philosophy of Mathematics: readings (2nd)', ed/tr. Benacerraf/Putnam [CUP 1983], p.220


A Reaction

This problem has bothered me. There are formal ways of constructing real numbers, but they don't seem to result in a name for each one.