more on this theme     |     more from this thinker


Single Idea 22289

[filed under theme 2. Reason / D. Definition / 9. Recursive Definition ]

Full Idea

Dedkind gave a rigorous proof of the principle of definition by recursion, permitting recursive definitions of addition and multiplication, and hence proofs of the familiar arithmetical laws.

Gist of Idea

Dedekind proved definition by recursion, and thus proved the basic laws of arithmetic

Source

report of Richard Dedekind (Nature and Meaning of Numbers [1888]) by Michael Potter - The Rise of Analytic Philosophy 1879-1930 13 'Deriv'

Book Ref

Potter,Michael: 'The Rise of Anaytic Philosophy 1879-1930' [Routledge 2020], p.88


The 23 ideas from 'Nature and Meaning of Numbers'

Dedekind proved definition by recursion, and thus proved the basic laws of arithmetic [Dedekind, by Potter]
Dedekind defined the integers, rationals and reals in terms of just the natural numbers [Dedekind, by George/Velleman]
Ordinals can define cardinals, as the smallest ordinal that maps the set [Dedekind, by Heck]
Order, not quantity, is central to defining numbers [Dedekind, by Monk]
Dedekind's ordinals are just members of any progression whatever [Dedekind, by Russell]
Dedekind's axiom that his Cut must be filled has the advantages of theft over honest toil [Dedekind, by Russell]
Dedekind says each cut matches a real; logicists say the cuts are the reals [Dedekind, by Bostock]
Dedekind gives a base number which isn't a successor, then adds successors and induction [Dedekind, by Hart,WD]
Zero is a member, and all successors; numbers are the intersection of sets satisfying this [Dedekind, by Bostock]
Categoricity implies that Dedekind has characterised the numbers, because it has one domain [Rumfitt on Dedekind]
Induction is proved in Dedekind, an axiom in Peano; the latter seems simpler and clearer [Dedekind, by Russell]
Dedekindian abstraction talks of 'positions', where Cantorian abstraction talks of similar objects [Dedekind, by Fine,K]
Dedekind has a conception of abstraction which is not psychologistic [Dedekind, by Tait]
Dedekind said numbers were abstracted from systems of objects, leaving only their position [Dedekind, by Dummett]
In counting we see the human ability to relate, correspond and represent [Dedekind]
Numbers are free creations of the human mind, to understand differences [Dedekind]
Dedekind originated the structuralist conception of mathematics [Dedekind, by MacBride]
An infinite set maps into its own proper subset [Dedekind, by Reck/Price]
Dedekind originally thought more in terms of mereology than of sets [Dedekind, by Potter]
A thing is completely determined by all that can be thought concerning it [Dedekind]
We have the idea of self, and an idea of that idea, and so on, so infinite ideas are available [Dedekind, by Potter]
A system S is said to be infinite when it is similar to a proper part of itself [Dedekind]
We derive the natural numbers, by neglecting everything of a system except distinctness and order [Dedekind]