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Single Idea 18153

[from 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus' by Ludwig Wittgenstein, in 6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 5. Definitions of Number / a. Defining numbers ]

Full Idea

A number is the index of an operation.

Gist of Idea

A number is a repeated operation

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 6.021)

Book Reference

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (Pears)', ed/tr. Pears,D. /McGuinness,B. [RKP 1961], p.59


A Reaction

Roughly, this means that a number indicates how many times some basic operation has been performed. Bostock 2009:286 expounds the idea.