“What Line Can’t Be Measured With a Ruler?”: Riddles and Concept-Formation in Mathematics and Aesthetics

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Nordic Wittgenstein Review 13 (2024)
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Abstract

We analyze two problems in mathematics – the first (stated in our title) is extracted from Wittgenstein’s “Philosophy for Mathematicians”; the second (“What set of numbers is non-denumerable?”) is taken from Cantor. We then consider, by way of comparison, a problem in musical aesthetics concerning a Brahms variation on a theme by Haydn. Our aim is to bring out and elucidate the essentially riddle-like character of these problems.

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10.15845/nwr.v13.3691

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Samuel C. Wheeler III
University of Connecticut

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References found in this work

Culture and Value.L. Wittgenstein - 1982 - Critica 14 (41):93-96.
The Realistic Spirit: Wittgenstein, Philosophy, and the Mind.Cora DIAMOND - 1991 - Revue de Métaphysique et de Morale 100 (4):577-577.
Philosophical Grammar.Ludwig Wittgenstein, Rush Rhees & Anthony Kenny - 1975 - Philosophy and Rhetoric 8 (4):260-262.
III. Some developments in Wittgenstein's view of ethics.Rush Rhees - 1965 - Philosophical Review 74 (1):17-26.

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