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Single Idea 9945

[from 'Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations)' by Gottlob Frege, in 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 6. Logicism / a. Early logicism ]

Full Idea

Frege claims that his logicist project directly shows that no empirical truths about the natural world need be employed in the justification of arithmetic (nor need any truths that are apprehended through some kind of intuition).

Gist of Idea

Logicism shows that no empirical truths are needed to justify arithmetic

Source

report of Gottlob Frege (Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations) [1884]) by A.George / D.J.Velleman - Philosophies of Mathematics Ch.2

Book Reference

George,A/Velleman D.J.: 'Philosophies of Mathematics' [Blackwell 2002], p.17


A Reaction

This simple way of putting it creates a sticking-point for me. It occurs to me that the best description of arithmetic is that it 'models' the natural world. If a beautiful system failed to count objects, it wouldn't be accepted as 'arithmetic'.