Single Idea 17435

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 4. Using Numbers / a. Units]

Full Idea

Objects do not by themselves naturally fall into countable units.

Gist of Idea

Objects do not naturally form countable units

Source

Kathrin Koslicki (Isolation and Non-arbitrary Division [1997], 2.2)

Book Reference

-: 'Synthese' [-], p.416


A Reaction

Hm. This seems to be modern Fregean orthodoxy. Why did the institution of counting ever get started if the things in the world didn't demand counting? Even birds are aware of the number of eggs in their nest (because they miss a stolen one).