Full Idea
Dedekind is the philosopher-mathematician with whom the structuralist conception originates.
Gist of Idea
Dedekind originated the structuralist conception of mathematics
Source
report of Richard Dedekind (Nature and Meaning of Numbers [1888], §3 n13) by Fraser MacBride - Structuralism Reconsidered
Book Reference
'Oxf Handbk of Philosophy of Maths and Logic', ed/tr. Shapiro,Stewart [OUP 2007], p.581
A Reaction
Hellman says the idea grew naturally out of modern mathematics, and cites Hilbert's belief that furniture would do as mathematical objects.