Single Idea 22298

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 9. Fictional Mathematics]

Full Idea

Fictionalists struggle to explain why arithmetic is applicable to the real world in a way that other stories are not.

Gist of Idea

Why is fictional arithmetic applicable to the real world?

Source

Michael Potter (The Rise of Analytic Philosophy 1879-1930 [2020], 21 'Math')

Book Reference

Potter,Michael: 'The Rise of Anaytic Philosophy 1879-1930' [Routledge 2020], p.143


A Reaction

We know why some novels are realistic and others just the opposite. If a novel aimed to 'model' the real world it would be even closer to it. Fictionalists must explain why some fictions are useful.