The Caesar Problem — A Piecemeal Solution

Abstract The Caesar problem arises for abstractionist views, which seek to secure reference for terms such as ‘the number of $X$s’ or $\#X$ by stipulating the content of ‘unmixed’ identity contexts like ‘$\#X = \#Y$’. Frege objects that this stipulation says nothing about ‘mixed’ contexts such as ‘$\# X = \text{Julius Caesar}$’. This article defends a neglected response to the Caesar problem: the content of mixed contexts is just as open to stipulation as that of unmixed contexts.