For more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_theorem_of_arithmetic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_theorem_of_arithmet... I agree that some mat

For more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_theorem_of_arithmetic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_theorem_of_arithmet... I agree that some mathematical objects are "more fundamental than others"; primes are probably among the most basic. If you're interested in the ontological status of mathematical entities, and the process and meaning of mathematics, check out "The Mathematical Experience" by Davis and Hersh, http://books.google.com/books?id=lMdz84dWNnAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=davis+hersh+mathematical+experience&source=bl&ots=Bq70OkN0xY&sig=UQ0ZKT8NhvC0ELPGJs88rYe8E8Y&hl=en&ei=ZhMhTPnsL8f7nAe_7fBk&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false http://books.google.com/books?id=lMdz84dWNnAC&printsec=f... There is a section on primes starting on page 209.