Phenomenological Reviews

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176322

Frege's theory of real numbers

Peter Simons

pp. 117-141

Abstract

Frege's theory of real numbers has undeservedly received almost no attention, in part because what we have is only a fragment. Yet his theory is interesting for the light it throws on logicism, and it is quite different from standard modern approaches. Frege polemicizes vigorously against his contemporaries, sketches the main features of his own radical alternative, and begins the formal development. This paper summarizes and expounds what he has to say, and goes on to reconstruct the most important steps which he is likely to have subsequently taken. The various difficulties facing his theory in this reconstruction are outlined, and some surprising consequences drawn about the nature of his logicism.

Publication details

Published in:

Simons Peter (1992) Philosophy and logic in Central Europe from Bolzano to Tarski: selected essays. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 117-141

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-015-8094-6_5

Full citation:

Simons Peter (1992) Frege's theory of real numbers, In: Philosophy and logic in Central Europe from Bolzano to Tarski, Dordrecht, Springer, 117–141.