2009/9/16 Flammarion <[email protected]>: >> I find that I can't real say what the difference is supposed to be >> between numbers existing mathematically and numbers existing >> Platonically, other than that different labels are being used. What >> precisely is the latter supposed to entail that the former does not, >> and what difference is this supposed to make? Can you help, Peter? > > Existing mathematically doesn't have any ontoloigcal meaning. > Both formalists and Platonists can agree that 7 exists, > since they agree Ex:x=7 is true, but only the latter think > 7 has Platonic existence.
Yes, but I still don't see what difference the word 'ontological' makes in this context. Surely whatever world-conjuring power numbers may possess can't depend on which label is attached to them? If a mathematical scheme fulfils a deep enough explanatory role (a moot point I admit) isn't that 'ontological' enough? David > > > > On 15 Sep, 19:21, David Nyman <[email protected]> wrote: >> 2009/9/14 Flammarion <[email protected]>: >> >> >> They don't exist physically. They do exist mathematically. It is all >> >> what is used. >> >> > You mean they exist Platonically. For formlalists, >> > such "existence" is a mere metaphor and has >> > no metaphyscial consequences. >> >> I find that I can't real say what the difference is supposed to be >> between numbers existing mathematically and numbers existing >> Platonically, other than that different labels are being used. What >> precisely is the latter supposed to entail that the former does not, >> and what difference is this supposed to make? Can you help, Peter? > > Existing mathematically doesn't have any ontoloigcal meaning. > Both formalists and Platonists can agree that 7 exists, > since they agree Ex:x=7 is true, but only the latter think > 7 has Platonic existence. > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
