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Single Idea 15898

[from 'Understanding the Infinite' by Shaughan Lavine, in 4. Formal Logic / F. Set Theory ST / 4. Axioms for Sets / j. Axiom of Choice IX ]

Full Idea

The controversy was not about Choice per se, but about the correct notion of function - between advocates of taking mathematics to be about arbitrary functions and advocates of taking it to be about functions given by rules.

Gist of Idea

The controversy was not about the Axiom of Choice, but about functions as arbitrary, or given by rules

Source

Shaughan Lavine (Understanding the Infinite [1994], I)

Book Reference

Lavine,Shaughan: 'Understanding the Infinite' [Harvard 1994], p.4


Related Idea

Idea 15897 Zermelo realised that Choice would facilitate the sort of 'counting' Cantor needed [Zermelo, by Lavine]