Single Idea 10185

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 6. Mathematics as Set Theory / a. Mathematics is set theory]

Full Idea

In present-day mathematics, it is set theory that serves as the background theory in which other branches of mathematics are developed.

Gist of Idea

Set theory is the standard background for modern mathematics

Source

John P. Burgess (Review of Chihara 'Struct. Accnt of Maths' [2005], §1)


A Reaction

[He cites Bourbaki as an authority for this] See Benacerraf for a famous difficulty here, when you actually try to derive an ontology from the mathematicians' working practices.