Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Parmenides', 'Reference and Essence: seven appendices' and 'Lectures 1930-32 (student notes)'

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2 ideas

6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 3. Nature of Numbers / g. Real numbers
We don't get 'nearer' to something by adding decimals to 1.1412... (root-2) [Wittgenstein]
     Full Idea: We say we get nearer to root-2 by adding further figures after the decimal point: 1.1412.... This suggests there is something we can get nearer to, but the analogy is a false one.
     From: Ludwig Wittgenstein (Lectures 1930-32 (student notes) [1931], Notes)
6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 5. The Infinite / a. The Infinite
Infinity is not a number, so doesn't say how many; it is the property of a law [Wittgenstein]
     Full Idea: 'Infinite' is not an answer to the question 'How many?', since the infinite is not a number. ...Infinity is the property of a law, not of an extension.
     From: Ludwig Wittgenstein (Lectures 1930-32 (student notes) [1931], A VII.2)