Single Idea 17618

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 6. Mathematics as Set Theory / a. Mathematics is set theory]

Full Idea

Our set-theoretic methods track the underlying contours of mathematical depth. ...What sets are, most fundamentally, is markers for these contours ...they are maximally effective trackers of certain trains of mathematical fruitfulness.

Gist of Idea

Set-theory tracks the contours of mathematical depth and fruitfulness

Source

Penelope Maddy (Defending the Axioms [2011], 3.4)

Book Reference

Maddy,Penelope: 'Defending the Axioms' [OUP 2013], p.82


A Reaction

This seems to make it more like a map of mathematics than the actual essence of mathematics.