Single Idea 8956

[catalogued under 4. Formal Logic / F. Set Theory ST / 3. Types of Set / c. Unit (Singleton) Sets]

Full Idea

The relationship between an object and its singleton is puzzling. Our intuitive conception of a set is a collection of objects - what are we to make of a collection of a single object?

Gist of Idea

What is a singleton set, if a set is meant to be a collection of objects?

Source

Zoltán Gendler Szabó (Nominalism [2003], 4.1)

Book Reference

'The Oxford Handbook of Metaphysics', ed/tr. Loux,M /Zimmerman,D [OUP 2005], p.27


A Reaction

The ontological problem seems to be the same as that of the empty set, and indeed the claim that a pair of entities is three things. For logicians the empty set is as real as a pet dog, but not for me.