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Single Idea 8711

[from 'Introducing the Philosophy of Mathematics' by Michèle Friend, in 5. Theory of Logic / G. Quantification / 7. Unorthodox Quantification ]

Full Idea

In the intuitionist version of quantification, the universal quantifier (normally read as "all") is understood as "we have a procedure for checking every" or "we have checked every".

Gist of Idea

Intuitionists read the universal quantifier as "we have a procedure for checking every..."

Source

Michèle Friend (Introducing the Philosophy of Mathematics [2007], 5.5)

Book Reference

Friend,Michèle: 'Introducing the Philosophy of Mathematics' [Acumen 2007], p.122


A Reaction

It seems better to describe this as 'verificationist' (or, as Dummett prefers, 'justificationist'). Intuition suggests an ability to 'see' beyond the evidence. It strikes me as bizarre to say that you can't discuss things you can't check.