Single Idea 9971

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 3. Nature of Numbers / e. Ordinal numbers]

Full Idea

Cantor introduced the distinction between cardinal and ordinal numbers.

Gist of Idea

Cantor introduced the distinction between cardinals and ordinals

Source

report of George Cantor (works [1880]) by William W. Tait - Frege versus Cantor and Dedekind Intro

Book Reference

'Philosophy of Mathematics: anthology', ed/tr. Jacquette,Dale [Blackwell 2002], p.40


A Reaction

This seems remarkably late for what looks like a very significant clarification. The two concepts coincide in finite cases, but come apart in infinite cases (Tait p.58).