Full Idea
Mathematics is throughout indifferent to the question whether its entities exist.
Gist of Idea
Mathematics doesn't care whether its entities exist
Source
Bertrand Russell (The Principles of Mathematics [1903], §434)
Book Reference
Russell,Bertrand: 'Principles of Mathematics' [Routledge 1992], p.458
A Reaction
There is an 'if-thenist' attitude in this book, since he is trying to reduce mathematics to logic. Total indifference leaves the problem of why mathematics is applicable to the real world.
Related Idea
Idea 14161 Many things have being (as topics of propositions), but may not have actual existence [Russell]