Combining Texts

Ideas for 'On the Question of Absolute Undecidability', 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus' and 'The Question of Realism'

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5 ideas

6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 4. Axioms for Number / d. Peano arithmetic
PA is consistent as far as we can accept, and we expand axioms to overcome limitations [Koellner]
     Full Idea: To the extent that we are justified in accepting Peano Arithmetic we are justified in accepting its consistency, and so we know how to expand the axiom system so as to overcome the limitation [of Gödel's Second Theorem].
     From: Peter Koellner (On the Question of Absolute Undecidability [2006], 1.1)
     A reaction: Each expansion brings a limitation, but then you can expand again.
6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 4. Axioms for Number / g. Incompleteness of Arithmetic
Arithmetical undecidability is always settled at the next stage up [Koellner]
     Full Idea: The arithmetical instances of undecidability that arise at one stage of the hierarchy are settled at the next.
     From: Peter Koellner (On the Question of Absolute Undecidability [2006], 1.4)
6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 5. Definitions of Number / a. Defining numbers
A number is a repeated operation [Wittgenstein]
     Full Idea: A number is the index of an operation.
     From: Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 6.021)
     A reaction: Roughly, this means that a number indicates how many times some basic operation has been performed. Bostock 2009:286 expounds the idea.
The concept of number is just what all numbers have in common [Wittgenstein]
     Full Idea: The concept of number is simply what is common to all numbers, the general form of number. The concept of number is the variable number.
     From: Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 6.022)
6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 6. Mathematics as Set Theory / b. Mathematics is not set theory
The theory of classes is superfluous in mathematics [Wittgenstein]
     Full Idea: The theory of classes is completely superfluous in mathematics. This is connected with the fact that the generality required in mathematics is not accidental generality.
     From: Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 6.031)
     A reaction: This fits Russell's no-class theory, which rests everything instead on propositional functions.