Finsler Set Theory: Platonism and Circularity

Finsler Set Theory: Platonism and Circularity
Author: David Booth
Publisher: Birkhäuser
Total Pages: 284
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 3034890311

Finsler's papers on set theory are presented, here for the first time in English translation, in three parts, and each is preceded by an introduction to the field written by the editors. In the philosophical part of his work Finsler develops his approach to the paradoxes, his attitude toward formalized theories and his defense of Platonism in mathematics. He insisted on the existence of a conceptual realm within mathematics that transcends formal systems. From the foundational point of view, Finsler's set theory contains a strengthened criterion for set identity and a coinductive specification of the universe of sets. The notion of the class of circle free sets introduced by Finsler is potentially a very fertile one although not very widespread today. Combinatorially, Finsler considers sets as generalized numbers to which one may apply arithmetical techniques. The introduction to this third section of the book extends Finsler's theory to non-well-founded sets. The present volume makes Finsler's papers on set theory accessible at long last to a wider group of mathematicians, philosophers and historians of science. A technical background is not necessary to appreciate the satisfying interplay of philosophical and mathematical ideas that characterizes this work.

Notes on Set Theory

Notes on Set Theory
Author: Yiannis Moschovakis
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 280
Release: 2013-04-17
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1475741537

What this book is about. The theory of sets is a vibrant, exciting math ematical theory, with its own basic notions, fundamental results and deep open problems, and with significant applications to other mathematical theories. At the same time, axiomatic set theory is often viewed as a foun dation ofmathematics: it is alleged that all mathematical objects are sets, and their properties can be derived from the relatively few and elegant axioms about sets. Nothing so simple-minded can be quite true, but there is little doubt that in standard, current mathematical practice, "making a notion precise" is essentially synonymous with "defining it in set theory. " Set theory is the official language of mathematics, just as mathematics is the official language of science. Like most authors of elementary, introductory books about sets, I have tried to do justice to both aspects of the subject. From straight set theory, these Notes cover the basic facts about "ab stract sets," including the Axiom of Choice, transfinite recursion, and car dinal and ordinal numbers. Somewhat less common is the inclusion of a chapter on "pointsets" which focuses on results of interest to analysts and introduces the reader to the Continuum Problem, central to set theory from the very beginning.

Foundations of Set Theory

Foundations of Set Theory
Author: A.A. Fraenkel
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 415
Release: 1973-12-01
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 0080887058

Foundations of Set Theory discusses the reconstruction undergone by set theory in the hands of Brouwer, Russell, and Zermelo. Only in the axiomatic foundations, however, have there been such extensive, almost revolutionary, developments. This book tries to avoid a detailed discussion of those topics which would have required heavy technical machinery, while describing the major results obtained in their treatment if these results could be stated in relatively non-technical terms. This book comprises five chapters and begins with a discussion of the antinomies that led to the reconstruction of set theory as it was known before. It then moves to the axiomatic foundations of set theory, including a discussion of the basic notions of equality and extensionality and axioms of comprehension and infinity. The next chapters discuss type-theoretical approaches, including the ideal calculus, the theory of types, and Quine's mathematical logic and new foundations; intuitionistic conceptions of mathematics and its constructive character; and metamathematical and semantical approaches, such as the Hilbert program. This book will be of interest to mathematicians, logicians, and statisticians.

Formalism and Beyond

Formalism and Beyond
Author: Godehard Link
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
Total Pages: 382
Release: 2014-10-09
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 161451996X

The essays collected in this volume focus on the role of formalist aspects in mathematical theorizing and practice, examining issues such as infinity, finiteness, and proof procedures, as well as central historical figures in the field, including Frege, Russell, Hilbert and Wittgenstein. Using modern logico-philosophical tools and systematic conceptual and logical analyses, the volume provides a thorough, up-to-date account of the subject.

Elements of Set Theory

Elements of Set Theory
Author: Herbert B. Enderton
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 294
Release: 1977-05-23
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0080570429

This is an introductory undergraduate textbook in set theory. In mathematics these days, essentially everything is a set. Some knowledge of set theory is necessary part of the background everyone needs for further study of mathematics. It is also possible to study set theory for its own interest--it is a subject with intruiging results anout simple objects. This book starts with material that nobody can do without. There is no end to what can be learned of set theory, but here is a beginning.

Fundamentals of Contemporary Set Theory

Fundamentals of Contemporary Set Theory
Author: K. J. Devlin
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 191
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1468400843

This book is intended to provide an account of those parts of contemporary set theory which are of direct relevance to other areas of pure mathematics. The intended reader is either an advanced level undergraduate, or a beginning graduate student in mathematics, or else an accomplished mathematician who desires or needs a familiarity with modern set theory. The book is written in a fairly easy going style, with a minimum of formalism (a format characteristic of contemporary set theory) • In Chapter I the basic principles of set theory are developed in a "naive" tl manner. Here the notions of "set I II union " , "intersection", "power set" I "relation" I "function" etc. are defined and discussed. One assumption in writing this chapter has been that whereas the reader may have met all of these concepts before, and be familiar with their usage, he may not have considered the various notions as forming part of the continuous development of a pure subject (namely set theory) • Consequently, our development is at the same time rigorous and fast. Chapter II develops the theory of sets proper. Starting with the naive set theory of Chapter I, we begin by asking the question "What is a set?" Attempts to give a rLgorous answer lead naturally to the axioms of set theory introduced by Zermelo and Fraenkel, which is the system taken as basic in this book.

Set Theory And Foundations Of Mathematics: An Introduction To Mathematical Logic - Volume I: Set Theory

Set Theory And Foundations Of Mathematics: An Introduction To Mathematical Logic - Volume I: Set Theory
Author: Douglas Cenzer
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 222
Release: 2020-04-04
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9811201943

This book provides an introduction to axiomatic set theory and descriptive set theory. It is written for the upper level undergraduate or beginning graduate students to help them prepare for advanced study in set theory and mathematical logic as well as other areas of mathematics, such as analysis, topology, and algebra.The book is designed as a flexible and accessible text for a one-semester introductory course in set theory, where the existing alternatives may be more demanding or specialized. Readers will learn the universally accepted basis of the field, with several popular topics added as an option. Pointers to more advanced study are scattered throughout the text.

Basic Set Theory

Basic Set Theory
Author: Nikolai Konstantinovich Vereshchagin
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
Total Pages: 130
Release: 2002
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0821827316

The main notions of set theory (cardinals, ordinals, transfinite induction) are fundamental to all mathematicians, not only to those who specialize in mathematical logic or set-theoretic topology. Basic set theory is generally given a brief overview in courses on analysis, algebra, or topology, even though it is sufficiently important, interesting, and simple to merit its own leisurely treatment. This book provides just that: a leisurely exposition for a diversified audience. It is suitable for a broad range of readers, from undergraduate students to professional mathematicians who want to finally find out what transfinite induction is and why it is always replaced by Zorn's Lemma. The text introduces all main subjects of ``naive'' (nonaxiomatic) set theory: functions, cardinalities, ordered and well-ordered sets, transfinite induction and its applications, ordinals, and operations on ordinals. Included are discussions and proofs of the Cantor-Bernstein Theorem, Cantor's diagonal method, Zorn's Lemma, Zermelo's Theorem, and Hamel bases. With over 150 problems, the book is a complete and accessible introduction to the subject.

Set Theory

Set Theory
Author: Daniel W. Cunningham
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 265
Release: 2016-07-18
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1316682048

Set theory is a rich and beautiful subject whose fundamental concepts permeate virtually every branch of mathematics. One could say that set theory is a unifying theory for mathematics, since nearly all mathematical concepts and results can be formalized within set theory. This textbook is meant for an upper undergraduate course in set theory. In this text, the fundamentals of abstract sets, including relations, functions, the natural numbers, order, cardinality, transfinite recursion, the axiom of choice, ordinal numbers, and cardinal numbers, are developed within the framework of axiomatic set theory. The reader will need to be comfortable reading and writing mathematical proofs. The proofs in this textbook are rigorous, clear, and complete, while remaining accessible to undergraduates who are new to upper-level mathematics. Exercises are included at the end of each section in a chapter, with useful suggestions for the more challenging exercises.

Introduction to Modern Set Theory

Introduction to Modern Set Theory
Author: Judith Roitman
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 188
Release: 1990-01-16
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9780471635192

This is modern set theory from the ground up--from partial orderings and well-ordered sets to models, infinite cobinatorics and large cardinals. The approach is unique, providing rigorous treatment of basic set-theoretic methods, while integrating advanced material such as independence results, throughout. The presentation incorporates much interesting historical material and no background in mathematical logic is assumed. Treatment is self-contained, featuring theorem proofs supported by diagrams, examples and exercises. Includes applications of set theory to other branches of mathematics.