 If [the philosopher] maintains, for example, that numbers do not exist but nevertheless asserts, or is persuaded to admit, “1729 is the sum of two cubes in more than one way”, he is, at least prima facie, involved in contradiction, because by naming the number 1729 and attributing a property to it he seems to be committed to the existence of at least this one number. (1958a [BE: 438])