more from Charles Chihara

Single Idea 9571

[catalogued under 4. Formal Logic / F. Set Theory ST / 7. Natural Sets]

Full Idea

ZFU set theory talks about physical objects (the urelements), and hence is in some way about the physical world.

Clarification

'Ur-' means basic

Gist of Idea

ZFU refers to the physical world, when it talks of 'urelements'

Source

Charles Chihara (A Structural Account of Mathematics [2004], 11.5)

Book Reference

Chihara,Charles: 'A Structural Account of Mathematics' [OUP 2004], p.336


A Reaction

This sounds a bit surprising, given that the whole theory would appear to be quite unaffected if God announced that idealism is true and there are no physical objects.