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Full Idea
In 1910 Weyl observed that set theory seemed to presuppose natural numbers, and he regarded numbers as more fundamental than sets, as did Fraenkel. Dedekind had developed set theory independently, and used it to formulate numbers.
Gist of Idea
Can one develop set theory first, then derive numbers, or are numbers more basic?
Source
Stewart Shapiro (Foundations without Foundationalism [1991], 7.2.2)
Book Ref
Shapiro,Stewart: 'Foundations without Foundationalism' [OUP 1991], p.182