Full Idea
On Skolem's account, to 'get' the natural numbers - that primal structure - do not 'look for it' as the satisfier of some abstract (set-theoretic) axiomatic essence; start with that primitive structure.
Gist of Idea
The number series is primitive, not the result of some set theoretic axioms
Source
Joseph Almog (Nature Without Essence [2010], 12)
Book Reference
-: 'Journal of Philosophy' [-], p.381
A Reaction
[Skolem 1922 and 1923] Almog says the numbers are just 0,1,2,3,4..., and not some underlying axioms. That makes it sound as if they have nothing in common, and that the successor relation is a coincidence.