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Ideas from 'talk' by Henri Poincaré [1901], by Theme Structure

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6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 10. Constructivism / a. Constructivism
9916 Convention, yes! Arbitrary, no!
                        Full Idea: Poincaré once exclaimed, 'Convention, yes! Arbitrary, no!'.
                        From: report of Henri Poincaré (talk [1901]) by Hilary Putnam - Models and Reality
                        A reaction: An interesting view. It mustn't be assumed that conventions are not rooted in something. Maybe a sort of pragmatism is implied.