27 ideas
10143 | 'Creative definitions' do not presuppose the existence of the objects defined [Fine,K] |
9143 | Implicit definitions must be satisfiable, creative definitions introduce things, contextual definitions build on things [Fine,K, by Cook/Ebert] |
10702 | Set theory's three roles: taming the infinite, subject-matter of mathematics, and modes of reasoning [Potter] |
10713 | Usually the only reason given for accepting the empty set is convenience [Potter] |
13044 | Infinity: There is at least one limit level [Potter] |
10708 | Nowadays we derive our conception of collections from the dependence between them [Potter] |
13546 | The 'limitation of size' principles say whether properties collectivise depends on the number of objects [Potter] |
10707 | Mereology elides the distinction between the cards in a pack and the suits [Potter] |
10704 | We can formalize second-order formation rules, but not inference rules [Potter] |
10703 | Supposing axioms (rather than accepting them) give truths, but they are conditional [Potter] |
10712 | If set theory didn't found mathematics, it is still needed to count infinite sets [Potter] |
17882 | It is remarkable that all natural number arithmetic derives from just the Peano Axioms [Potter] |
10145 | Abstracts cannot be identified with sets [Fine,K] |
10136 | Points in Euclidean space are abstract objects, but not introduced by abstraction [Fine,K] |
10144 | Postulationism says avoid abstract objects by giving procedures that produce truth [Fine,K] |
13043 | A relation is a set consisting entirely of ordered pairs [Potter] |
13042 | If dependence is well-founded, with no infinite backward chains, this implies substances [Potter] |
13041 | Collections have fixed members, but fusions can be carved in innumerable ways [Potter] |
10709 | Priority is a modality, arising from collections and members [Potter] |
9144 | Fine's 'procedural postulationism' uses creative definitions, but avoids abstract ontology [Fine,K, by Cook/Ebert] |
10141 | Many different kinds of mathematical objects can be regarded as forms of abstraction [Fine,K] |
10135 | We can abstract from concepts (e.g. to number) and from objects (e.g. to direction) [Fine,K] |
9142 | Fine considers abstraction as reconceptualization, to produce new senses by analysing given senses [Fine,K, by Cook/Ebert] |
10137 | Abstractionism can be regarded as an alternative to set theory [Fine,K] |
10138 | An object is the abstract of a concept with respect to a relation on concepts [Fine,K] |
1748 | Archelaus was the first person to say that the universe is boundless [Archelaus, by Diog. Laertius] |
5989 | Archelaus said life began in a primeval slime [Archelaus, by Schofield] |