Single Idea 17716

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 4. Mathematical Empiricism / a. Mathematical empiricism]

Full Idea

Aristotelians treat mathematical facts as relations between properties. These properties, moreover, are abstracted from our experience of things. ...This view finds a natural companion in structuralism.

Gist of Idea

Mathematics is relations between properties we abstract from experience

Source

Edwin D. Mares (A Priori [2011], 11.7)

Book Reference

Mares,Edwin: 'A Priori' [Acumen 2011], p.182


A Reaction

This is the view of mathematics that I personally favour. The view that we abstract 'five' from a group of five pebbles is too simplistic, but this is the right general approach.