Single Idea 10165

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 3. Nature of Numbers / g. Real numbers]

Full Idea

'Analysis' is the theory of the real numbers.

Gist of Idea

'Analysis' is the theory of the real numbers

Source

E Reck / M Price (Structures and Structuralism in Phil of Maths [2000], §2)


A Reaction

'Analysis' began with the infinitesimal calculus, which later built on the concept of 'limit'. A continuum of numbers seems to be required to make that work.