Full Idea
Historically, the evolution of mereology was associated with the desire to find alternatives to set theory for those with nomimalist qualms about the commitment to abstract objects like sets.
Gist of Idea
Mereology began as a nominalist revolt against the commitments of set theory
Source
Verity Harte (Plato on Parts and Wholes [2002], 1.2)
Book Reference
Harte,Verity: 'Plato on Parts and Wholes' [OUP 2002], p.14
A Reaction
Goodman, for example. It is interesting to note that the hardline nominalist Quine, pal of Goodman, eventually accepted set theory. It is difficult to account for things by merely naming their parts.