49 ideas
9641 | Definitions should be replaceable by primitives, and should not be creative [Brown,JR] |
9634 | Set theory says that natural numbers are an actual infinity (to accommodate their powerset) [Brown,JR] |
9615 | Nowadays conditions are only defined on existing sets [Brown,JR] |
9613 | Naïve set theory assumed that there is a set for every condition [Brown,JR] |
9617 | The 'iterative' view says sets start with the empty set and build up [Brown,JR] |
9642 | A flock of birds is not a set, because a set cannot go anywhere [Brown,JR] |
9605 | If a proposition is false, then its negation is true [Brown,JR] |
9649 | Axioms are either self-evident, or stipulations, or fallible attempts [Brown,JR] |
9638 | Berry's Paradox finds a contradiction in the naming of huge numbers [Brown,JR] |
9604 | Mathematics is the only place where we are sure we are right [Brown,JR] |
9622 | 'There are two apples' can be expressed logically, with no mention of numbers [Brown,JR] |
9648 | π is a 'transcendental' number, because it is not the solution of an equation [Brown,JR] |
9621 | Mathematics represents the world through structurally similar models. [Brown,JR] |
9646 | There is no limit to how many ways something can be proved in mathematics [Brown,JR] |
9647 | Computers played an essential role in proving the four-colour theorem of maps [Brown,JR] |
9643 | Set theory may represent all of mathematics, without actually being mathematics [Brown,JR] |
9644 | When graphs are defined set-theoretically, that won't cover unlabelled graphs [Brown,JR] |
9625 | To see a structure in something, we must already have the idea of the structure [Brown,JR] |
9628 | Sets seem basic to mathematics, but they don't suit structuralism [Brown,JR] |
9606 | The irrationality of root-2 was achieved by intellect, not experience [Brown,JR] |
9610 | Numbers are not abstracted from particulars, because each number is a particular [Brown,JR] |
9612 | There is an infinity of mathematical objects, so they can't be physical [Brown,JR] |
9620 | Empiricists base numbers on objects, Platonists base them on properties [Brown,JR] |
9630 | The most brilliant formalist was Hilbert [Brown,JR] |
9629 | For nomalists there are no numbers, only numerals [Brown,JR] |
9639 | Does some mathematics depend entirely on notation? [Brown,JR] |
9608 | There are no constructions for many highly desirable results in mathematics [Brown,JR] |
9645 | Constructivists say p has no value, if the value depends on Goldbach's Conjecture [Brown,JR] |
9619 | David's 'Napoleon' is about something concrete and something abstract [Brown,JR] |
9611 | 'Abstract' nowadays means outside space and time, not concrete, not physical [Brown,JR] |
9609 | The older sense of 'abstract' is where 'redness' or 'group' is abstracted from particulars [Brown,JR] |
9640 | A term can have not only a sense and a reference, but also a 'computational role' [Brown,JR] |
299 | What is fine is always difficult [Plato] |
297 | What is fine is the parent of goodness [Plato] |
3926 | The human heart has a natural concern for public good [Hume] |
3929 | No moral theory is of any use if it doesn't serve the interests of the individual concerned [Hume] |
3925 | Personal Merit is the possession of useful or agreeable mental qualities [Hume] |
3922 | Justice only exists to support society [Hume] |
23560 | If we all naturally had everything we could ever desire, the virtue of justice would be irrelevant [Hume] |
3918 | Moral philosophy aims to show us our duty [Hume] |
3919 | Conclusions of reason do not affect our emotions or decisions to act [Hume] |
3928 | Virtue just requires careful calculation and a preference for the greater happiness [Hume] |
3923 | No one would cause pain to a complete stranger who happened to be passing [Hume] |
3924 | Nature makes private affections come first, because public concerns are spread too thinly [Hume] |
3921 | The safety of the people is the supreme law [Hume] |
3927 | Society prefers helpful lies to harmful truth [Hume] |
3920 | If you equalise possessions, people's talents will make them unequal again [Hume] |
298 | While sex is very pleasant, it should be in secret, as it looks contemptible [Plato] |
9635 | Given atomism at one end, and a finite universe at the other, there are no physical infinities [Brown,JR] |