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Single Idea 13017

[filed under theme 4. Formal Logic / F. Set Theory ST / 4. Axioms for Sets / c. Axiom of Pairing II ]

Full Idea

Zermelo's Pairing Axiom superseded (in 1930) his original 1908 Axiom of Elementary Sets. Like Union, its only justification seems to rest on 'limitations of size' and on the 'iterative conception'.

Gist of Idea

Zermelo introduced Pairing in 1930, and it seems fairly obvious

Source

report of Ernst Zermelo (Investigations in the Foundations of Set Theory I [1908]) by Penelope Maddy - Believing the Axioms I §1.3

Book Ref

-: 'Journal of Symbolic Logic' [-], p.484


A Reaction

Maddy says of this and Union, that they seem fairly obvious, but that their justification is of prime importance, if we are to understand what the axioms should be.


The 21 ideas from Ernst Zermelo

Zermelo showed that the ZF axioms in 1930 were non-categorical [Zermelo, by Hallett,M]
Replacement was added when some advanced theorems seemed to need it [Zermelo, by Maddy]
The antinomy of endless advance and of completion is resolved in well-ordered transfinite numbers [Zermelo]
In ZF, the Burali-Forti Paradox proves that there is no set of all ordinals [Zermelo, by Hart,WD]
Zermelo used Foundation to block paradox, but then decided that only Separation was needed [Zermelo, by Maddy]
Not every predicate has an extension, but Separation picks the members that satisfy a predicate [Zermelo, by Hart,WD]
The Axiom of Separation requires set generation up to one step back from contradiction [Zermelo, by Maddy]
For Zermelo the successor of n is {n} (rather than n U {n}) [Zermelo, by Maddy]
Zermelo believed, and Von Neumann seemed to confirm, that numbers are sets [Zermelo, by Maddy]
Different versions of set theory result in different underlying structures for numbers [Zermelo, by Brown,JR]
Zermelo introduced Pairing in 1930, and it seems fairly obvious [Zermelo, by Maddy]
Predicative definitions are acceptable in mathematics if they distinguish objects, rather than creating them? [Zermelo, by Lavine]
ZFC: Existence, Extension, Specification, Pairing, Unions, Powers, Infinity, Choice [Zermelo, by Clegg]
Zermelo published his axioms in 1908, to secure a controversial proof [Zermelo, by Maddy]
Set theory can be reduced to a few definitions and seven independent axioms [Zermelo]
We take set theory as given, and retain everything valuable, while avoiding contradictions [Zermelo]
Set theory investigates number, order and function, showing logical foundations for mathematics [Zermelo]
We should judge principles by the science, not science by some fixed principles [Zermelo]
Zermelo realised that Choice would facilitate the sort of 'counting' Cantor needed [Zermelo, by Lavine]
Zermelo made 'set' and 'member' undefined axioms [Zermelo, by Chihara]
For Zermelo's set theory the empty set is zero and the successor of each number is its unit set [Zermelo, by Blackburn]