Single Idea 18176

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

Full Idea

Pure mathematics ...according to my conception is nothing other than pure set theory.

Gist of Idea

Pure mathematics is pure set theory

Source

George Cantor (works [1880], I.1), quoted by Penelope Maddy - Naturalism in Mathematics I.1

Book Reference

Maddy,Penelope: 'Naturalism in Mathematics' [OUP 2000], p.21


A Reaction

[an unpublished paper of 1884] So right at the beginning of set theory this claim was being made, before it was axiomatised, and so on. Zermelo endorsed the view, and it flourished unchallenged until Benacerraf (1965).