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Single Idea 21695

[filed under theme 4. Formal Logic / F. Set Theory ST / 5. Conceptions of Set / d. Naïve logical sets ]

Full Idea

Each proposed revision of set theory is unnatural, because the natural scheme is the unrestricted one that the antinomies discredit.

Gist of Idea

The set scheme discredited by paradoxes is actually the most natural one

Source

Willard Quine (The Ways of Paradox [1961], p.16)

Book Ref

Quine,Willard: 'Ways of Paradox and other essays' [Harvard 1976], p.16


A Reaction

You can either takes this free-far-all version of set theory, and gradually restrain it for each specific problem, or start from scratch and build up in safe steps. The latter is (I think) the 'iterated' approach.


The 9 ideas with the same theme [sets as defined by absolutely any concept]:

Russell invented the naïve set theory usually attributed to Cantor [Russell, by Lavine]
The set scheme discredited by paradoxes is actually the most natural one [Quine]
Naïve sets are inconsistent: there is no set for things that do not belong to themselves [Boolos]
Naïve set theory has trouble with comprehension, the claim that every predicate has an extension [Hart,WD]
The paradoxes are only a problem for Frege; Cantor didn't assume every condition determines a set [Burgess/Rosen]
Naïve set theory assumed that there is a set for every condition [Brown,JR]
Nowadays conditions are only defined on existing sets [Brown,JR]
Naïve set theory says any formula defines a set, and coextensive sets are identical [Linnebo]
Predicativism says only predicated sets exist [Hossack]