more from Penelope Maddy

Single Idea 13011

[catalogued under 4. Formal Logic / F. Set Theory ST / 4. Axioms for Sets / a. Axioms for sets]

Full Idea

In current set theory, the search is on for new axioms to determine the size of the continuum.

Clarification

The 'continuum' is the complete sequence of all numbers

Gist of Idea

New axioms are being sought, to determine the size of the continuum

Source

Penelope Maddy (Believing the Axioms I [1988], §0)

Book Reference

-: 'Journal of Symbolic Logic' [-], p.482


A Reaction

This sounds the wrong way round. Presumably we seek axioms that fix everything else about set theory, and then check to see what continuum results. Otherwise we could just pick our continuum, by picking our axioms.