display all the ideas for this combination of texts
2 ideas
15360 | ZFC showed that the concept of set is mathematical, not logical, because of its existence claims [Horsten] |
Full Idea: One of the strengths of ZFC is that it shows that the concept of set is a mathematical concept. Many originally took it to be a logical concept. But ZFC makes mind-boggling existence claims, which should not follow if it was a logical concept. | |
From: Leon Horsten (The Tarskian Turn [2011], 05.2.3) | |
A reaction: This suggests that set theory is not just a way of expressing mathematics (see Benacerraf 1965), but that some aspect of mathematics has been revealed by it - maybe even its essential nature. |
15369 | Set theory is substantial over first-order arithmetic, because it enables new proofs [Horsten] |
Full Idea: The nonconservativeness of set theory over first-order arithmetic has done much to establish set theory as a substantial theory indeed. | |
From: Leon Horsten (The Tarskian Turn [2011], 07.5) | |
A reaction: Horsten goes on to point out the price paid, which is the whole new ontology which has to be added to the arithmetic. Who cares? It's all fictions anyway! |