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2 ideas
10055 | Mathematical proofs work, irrespective of whether the objects exist [Locke] |
Full Idea: All the demonstrations of mathematicians are the same, whether there be any square or circle existing in the world or no. | |
From: John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 4.04.08) | |
A reaction: Musgrave gives this as an early indication of the if-thenist view of mathematics. |
19289 | Maybe conventionalism applies to meaning, but not to the truth of propositions expressed [Hale] |
Full Idea: An old objection to conventionalism claims that it confuses sentences with propositions, confusing what makes sentences mean what they do with what makes them (as propositions) true. | |
From: Bob Hale (Necessary Beings [2013], 05.2) | |
A reaction: The conventions would presumably apply to the sentences, but not to the propositions. Since I think that focusing on propositions solves a lot of misunderstandings in modern philosophy, I like the sound of this. |