Full Idea
The single unified area of set theory provides a court of final appeal for questions of mathematical existence and proof.
Gist of Idea
Unified set theory gives a final court of appeal for mathematics
Source
Penelope Maddy (Naturalism in Mathematics [1997], I.2)
Book Reference
Maddy,Penelope: 'Naturalism in Mathematics' [OUP 2000], p.26
A Reaction
Maddy's third benefit of set theory. 'Existence' means being modellable in sets, and 'proof' means being derivable from the axioms. The slightly ad hoc character of the axioms makes this a weaker defence.
Related Ideas
Idea 18183 Set theory brings mathematics into one arena, where interrelations become clearer [Maddy]
Idea 18184 Making set theory foundational to mathematics leads to very fruitful axioms [Maddy]