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Single Idea 9975

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 5. Definitions of Number / c. Fregean numbers ]

Full Idea

Cantor pointed out explicitly to Frege that it is a mistake to take the notion of a set (i.e. of that which has a cardinal number) to simply mean the extension of a concept. ...Frege's later assumption of this was an act of recklessness.

Gist of Idea

Frege ignored Cantor's warning that a cardinal set is not just a concept-extension

Source

comment on Gottlob Frege (Grundgesetze der Arithmetik 1 (Basic Laws) [1893]) by William W. Tait - Frege versus Cantor and Dedekind III

Book Ref

'Philosophy of Mathematics: anthology', ed/tr. Jacquette,Dale [Blackwell 2002], p.44


A Reaction

['recklessness' is on p.61] Tait has no sympathy with the image of Frege as an intellectual martyr. Frege had insufficient respect for a great genius. Cantor, crucially, understood infinity much better than Frege.


The 9 ideas from 'Grundgesetze der Arithmetik 1 (Basic Laws)'

Frege considered definite descriptions to be genuine singular terms [Frege, by Fitting/Mendelsohn]
Frege defined number in terms of extensions of concepts, but needed Basic Law V to explain extensions [Frege, by Hale/Wright]
Frege ignored Cantor's warning that a cardinal set is not just a concept-extension [Tait on Frege]
A concept is a function mapping objects onto truth-values, if they fall under the concept [Frege, by Dummett]
Frege took the study of concepts to be part of logic [Frege, by Shapiro]
Contradiction arises from Frege's substitutional account of second-order quantification [Dummett on Frege]
Real numbers are ratios of quantities, such as lengths or masses [Frege]
We can't prove everything, but we can spell out the unproved, so that foundations are clear [Frege]
My Basic Law V is a law of pure logic [Frege]