Re: Existence of mathematical entities (Re: Successor Axiom: on what grounds TF?)

examachine_at_gmail.com
Date: 02/28/05 

Date: 28 Feb 2005 06:45:43 -0800

Mitch Harris wrote:
> examachine@gmail.com wrote:
> >
> > Nothing exists until you have empirical evidence for it.
>
> Or rewritten to make your context more apparent:
>
> "You don't know anything exists until you have empirical evidence
> for it"
>
> So what would be empirical evidence for "There exists an even
prime."?
>
> (maybe I need more clarificatoin of what you mean by "empirical").

This is quite simple.

You need nothing more than computational evidence, e.g. facts about a
simulation in your head, of a *generative* system of numbers.

The willingness of realist-logicists to taint empiricism with Platonist
notions does not stand in the way of a truly positivist philosophy.

Regards, 

--
Eray

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