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It is not the case that Frege argued in Grundgesetze that numbers are logical objects whose validity is grounded in consistent formal definition, not operational utility.
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1.
Formal definitions alone cannot ground ontological claims; consistent axioms can describe non-existent objects (e.g., inconsistent systems fail).
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2.
Numbers' primary cognitive role is operational: counting, measuring, and computing. Divorcing them from utility severs their meaningful origin.
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3.
Grundgesetze's foundational paradox (Russell's paradox) suggests that consistency and formal definition are insufficient for grounding mathematical objects.
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Reasons Against
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Reason against
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1.
Mathematical truths hold across all possible applications, suggesting they describe abstract objects rather than mere tools.
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2.
Formal systems can be self-justifying through internal consistency; their validity need not depend on external practical use.
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3.
Numbers exhibit mind-independent properties (e.g., primality) that exist regardless of whether humans find them operationally useful.
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