Single Idea 18216

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 9. Fictional Mathematics]

Full Idea

Abstract entities are useful because we can use them to formulate abstract counterparts of concrete statements.

Gist of Idea

Abstractions can form useful counterparts to concrete statements

Source

Hartry Field (Science without Numbers [1980], 3)

Book Reference

Field,Hartry: 'Science without Number' [Blackwell 1980], p.24


A Reaction

He defends the abstract statements as short cuts. If the concrete statements were 'true', then it seems likely that the abstract counterparts will also be true, which is not what fictionalism claims.