Single Idea 8623

[catalogued under 2. Reason / E. Argument / 6. Conclusive Proof]

Full Idea

Euclid gives proofs of many things which anyone would concede to him without question. ...The aim of proof is not merely to place the truth of a proposition beyond doubt, but also to afford us insight into the dependence of truths upon one another.

Gist of Idea

Proof reveals the interdependence of truths, as well as showing their certainty

Source

report of Euclid (Elements of Geometry [c.290 BCE]) by Gottlob Frege - Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations) §02

Book Reference

Frege,Gottlob: 'The Foundations of Arithmetic (Austin)', ed/tr. Austin,J.L. [Blackwell 1980], p.2


A Reaction

This connects nicely with Shoemaker's view of analysis (Idea 8559), which I will adopt as my general view. I've always thought of philosophy as the aspiration to wisdom through the cartography of concepts.

Related Idea

Idea 8559 Analysis aims at internal relationships, not reduction [Shoemaker]