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alt
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In the another thread, I queried some posters comments which were along the lines that zero is a metaphysical concept / doesn't exist.
Baywax responded, as below, and my additional comments are in blue.
Zero exists as much as the number 1 in that these are both language equivalents that correspond to a quantity of actual "things". So, in the sense that "zero" exists as a stimulated group of neurons... beyond that it is only a description of a quantity or a lack of quantity.
I presume you mean a stimulated group of neurons in the brain .. but then, everything exists as that. 'Cat' and 'weather' and 'syndrome' also exist as a stimulated group of neurons in the brain. So how is this unique to zero ?
In reality the description "zero" describes the "non-existence" of quantity and so even the "thing" or "quantity" that zero describes... does not exist.
Zero describes non existence. OK.
There is one apple on the table. I remove it. There is zero apples on the table. The 'zero' character of the apple (in realtion to the table) is now very real.What's wrong with that ? What am I missing ? Is the issue here being complicated more than it should ?
Baywax responded, as below, and my additional comments are in blue.
Zero exists as much as the number 1 in that these are both language equivalents that correspond to a quantity of actual "things". So, in the sense that "zero" exists as a stimulated group of neurons... beyond that it is only a description of a quantity or a lack of quantity.
I presume you mean a stimulated group of neurons in the brain .. but then, everything exists as that. 'Cat' and 'weather' and 'syndrome' also exist as a stimulated group of neurons in the brain. So how is this unique to zero ?
In reality the description "zero" describes the "non-existence" of quantity and so even the "thing" or "quantity" that zero describes... does not exist.
Zero describes non existence. OK.
There is one apple on the table. I remove it. There is zero apples on the table. The 'zero' character of the apple (in realtion to the table) is now very real.What's wrong with that ? What am I missing ? Is the issue here being complicated more than it should ?
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