Full Idea
There are no such things as numbers.
Gist of Idea
There are no such things as numbers
Source
Paul Benacerraf (What Numbers Could Not Be [1965], IIIC)
Book Reference
'Philosophy of Mathematics: readings (2nd)', ed/tr. Benacerraf/Putnam [CUP 1983], p.294
A Reaction
Mill said precisely the same (Idea 9794). I think I agree. There has been a classic error of reification. An abstract pattern is not an object. If I coin a word for all the three-digit numbers in our system, I haven't created a new 'object'.
Related Idea
Idea 9794 There are no such things as numbers in the abstract [Mill]