more from Willard Quine

Single Idea 21693

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

Full Idea

In the case of Russell's antinomy, the tacit and trusted pattern of reasoning that is found wanting is this: for any condition you can formulate, there is a class whose members are the things meeting the condition.

Gist of Idea

Russell's antinomy challenged the idea that any condition can produce a set

Source

Willard Quine (The Ways of Paradox [1961], p.11)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'Ways of Paradox and other essays' [Harvard 1976], p.11


A Reaction

This is why Russell's Paradox is so important for set theory, which in turn makes it important for the foundations of mathematics.