Full Idea
In mathematics, since the beginning of the nineteenth century, there has been an ascent to higher and higher levels of abstraction.
Gist of Idea
Mathematics has ascended to higher and higher levels of abstraction
Source
JP Burgess / G Rosen (A Subject with No Object [1997], II.C.1.b)
Book Reference
Burgess,J/Rosen,G: 'A Subject with No Object' [OUP 1997], p.153
A Reaction
I am interested in clarifying what this means, which might involve the common sense and psychological view of the matter, as well as some sort of formal definition in terms of equivalence (or whatever).
Related Idea
Idea 6298 Kitcher says maths is an idealisation of the world, and our operations in dealing with it [Kitcher, by Resnik]