Single Idea 10306

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 6. Logicism / d. Logicism critique]

Full Idea

Mathematical abstraction does not have a lesser degree than logical abstraction, but rather another direction.

Gist of Idea

Mathematical abstraction just goes in a different direction from logic

Source

Paul Bernays (On Platonism in Mathematics [1934], p.268)

Book Reference

'Philosophy of Mathematics: readings (2nd)', ed/tr. Benacerraf/Putnam [CUP 1983], p.268


A Reaction

His point is that the logicists seem to think that if you increasingly abstract from mathematics, you end up with pure logic.