more from Willard Quine

Single Idea 18170

[catalogued under 4. Formal Logic / F. Set Theory ST / 4. Axioms for Sets / p. Axiom of Reducibility]

Full Idea

The Axiom of Reducibility is self-effacing: if it is true, the ramification it is meant to cope with was pointless to begin with.

Gist of Idea

The Axiom of Reducibility is self-effacing: if true, it isn't needed

Source

Willard Quine (Introduction to Russell's Theory of Types [1967], p.152), quoted by Penelope Maddy - Naturalism in Mathematics I.1

Book Reference

Maddy,Penelope: 'Naturalism in Mathematics' [OUP 2000], p.12


A Reaction

Maddy says the rejection of Reducibility collapsed the ramified theory of types into the simple theory.