Single Idea 9912

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 3. Nature of Numbers / a. Numbers]

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]