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8688 | Concepts can be presented extensionally (as objects) or intensionally (as a characterization) [Friend] |
Full Idea: The extensional presentation of a concept is just a list of the objects falling under the concept. In contrast, an intensional presentation of a concept gives a characterization of the concept, which allows us to pick out which objects fall under it. | |
From: Michèle Friend (Introducing the Philosophy of Mathematics [2007], 3.4) | |
A reaction: Logicians seem to favour the extensional view, because (in the standard view) sets are defined simply by their members, so concepts can be explained using sets. I take this to be a mistake. The intensional view seems obviously prior. |