2009/9/16 Flammarion <peterdjones.domain.name.hidden>:
>> 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 07 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 <david.ny....domain.name.hidden> wrote:
>> 2009/9/14 Flammarion <peterdjo....domain.name.hidden>:
>>
>> >> 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.
> >
>
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Received on Wed Sep 16 2009 - 12:54:36 PDT