Single Idea 9567

[catalogued under 18. Thought / E. Abstraction / 3. Abstracta by Ignoring]

Full Idea

Mathematics can serve to provide a framework within which one deals only with quantities of physical significance, ignoring other, irrelevant things.

Gist of Idea

Maths deals with quantities of physical significance, ignoring irrelevant features

Source

Robert Geroch (Mathematical Physics [1985], p.1), quoted by Charles Chihara - A Structural Account of Mathematics 9.8

Book Reference

Chihara,Charles: 'A Structural Account of Mathematics' [OUP 2004], p.262


A Reaction

This is a modern physicist espousing abstractionism, as derided and dismissed by Frege and Geach. It's common sense, really.