Brent Meeker wrote: > Tom Caylor wrote: > > 1Z wrote: > >> Bruno Marchal wrote: > >>> Le 09-nov.-06, à 14:07, 1Z a écrit : > >>> > >>>> Bruno Marchal wrote: > >>>>> Le 31-oct.-06, à 19:37, 1Z a écrit : > >>>>> > >>>>>> Well, I think numbers don't exist AT ALL.... > >>>>> I have not the slightest idea what you mean by that. > >>>> If you don't understand anti-Platonism, that would certainly explain > >>>> why you don't argue against it. > >>> > >>> I still don't understand what you mean by numbers does not exist at > >>> all. > >>> If that is "antiplatonism", it would help me if you could explain > >>> what is "antiplatonism", or better what could it mean that the numbers > >>> don't exist. We already agree they don't exist physically, but saying > >>> they does not exist at all ??? > >> It means they don't non-physically exist either. > >> > >> Mathematical claims about existence can be true > >> of false, but so can fictional claims like "Harry Potter exists > >> in Middle Earth" > >> > >>> Even Licorne exists in some sense, > >>> without referent in "the physical world", but with referent (meaning) > >>> in some fantasy worlds? > >> Fantasy worlds don't exist -- that's why they are called fantasy > >> worlds, -- > >> Licornes don't exist, and Licornes' don't exist in fantasy worlds. > >> > >> Meaning is *not* the same thing as reference (Bedeutung). That is the > >> box the anti-Platonist has climbed out of. Some terms have > >> referents (non-linguistic items they denote), others have only > >> "sense" (Sinn). Sense and reference are two dimensions > >> aspects of meaning, but not every term has both. > >> Sense is internal to langauge, it a relationship between a > >> word/concept > >> and others. It is like a dictionary definition, whereas reference is > >> like > >> defining a word by pointing and saying "it is one of those". > >> But no-one has ever defined a Licorne that way, since > >> there is no Licorne to be pointed to. Mathematical concepts > >> are defined in terms of other mathematical concepts. > >> Mathematical reference is impossible and unnecessary. > >> > >>> Why could numbers not exist in some similar > >>> sense, except that the number fantasy kiks back (as Tom has recalled > >>> recently). > >> Saying that Licornes exist in a fantasy world > >> is a cumbersome way of saying they don't > >> literally exist. Well, numbers don't literally > >> kick back. They don't interact causally > >> with my reality. > > > > What about: > > If (2^32582657)-1 is a prime number, I will not eat my hat. > > In all possible worlds where I always keep my promises, I will not eat > > my hat. > > This is causally a result of the fact that (2^32582657)-1 is a prime > > number. > > > > Tom > > I think a clue is in the fact that you picked (2^32582657 -1) instead of 7. > > Brent Meeker
OK. I'll go with 7. Compare If 7 is a prime number, I will not eat my hat. vs. If this table holds up my coffee cup, I will not eat my hat. Signed, Tom --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
