Single Idea 7785

[catalogued under 4. Formal Logic / F. Set Theory ST / 5. Conceptions of Set / a. Sets as existing]

Full Idea

We should abandon the idea that the use of plural forms commits us to the existence of sets/classes… Entities are not to be multiplied beyond necessity. There are not two sorts of things in the world, individuals and collections.

Gist of Idea

The use of plurals doesn't commit us to sets; there do not exist individuals and collections

Source

George Boolos (To be is to be the value of a variable.. [1984]), quoted by Henry Laycock - Object

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.


A Reaction

The problem of quantifying over sets is notoriously difficult. Try http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/object/index.html.