Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Frege's Concept of Numbers as Objects', 'The Rise of Analytic Philosophy 1879-1930' and 'Scattered Objects'

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2 ideas

2. Reason / D. Definition / 7. Contextual Definition
The attempt to define numbers by contextual definition has been revived [Wright,C, by Fine,K]
     Full Idea: Frege gave up on the attempt to introduce natural numbers by contextual definition, but the project has been revived by neo-logicists.
     From: report of Crispin Wright (Frege's Concept of Numbers as Objects [1983]) by Kit Fine - The Limits of Abstraction II
2. Reason / D. Definition / 8. Impredicative Definition
Impredicative definitions are circular, but fine for picking out, rather than creating something [Potter]
     Full Idea: The circularity in a definition where the property being defined is used in the definition is now known as 'impredicativity'. ...Some cases ('the tallest man in the room') are unproblematic, as they pick him out, and don't conjure him into existence.
     From: Michael Potter (The Rise of Analytic Philosophy 1879-1930 [2020], 07 'Impred')
     A reaction: [part summary]