Logicism I: Numbers as Objects

Can we decide whether Julius Caesar is a number, or not?

Your answer may include discussion of some of the following questions:

• What is the relationship between concepts and objects?
• What is the rôle of definitions, according to Frege?
• What is the Context Principle?
• Is there a substantial distinction between mathematical and empirical objects, according to Frege?

Readings

Frege (1879);

Benacerraf (1965);

(George and Velleman, 2002, ch. 2);

(Wright, 1983, §§ii-iii, v, viii, xiv-xv)

Further readings

Russell (1919);

(Field, 1984, §§I-III), until `I think that this point is correct in spirit...'.