Sant'Anna, Adonai (2018) Epistemology of quasi-sets. [Preprint]

Preview

Text quasisets.pdf Download (69kB) | Preview

Abstract

I briefly discuss the epistemological role of quasi-set theory in mathematics and theoretical physics. Quasi-set theory is a first order theory, based on Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory with Urelemente (ZFU). Nevertheless, quasi-set theory allows us to cope with certain collections of objects where the usual notion of identity is not applicable, in the sense that $x = x$ is not a formula, if $x$ is an arbitrary term. Basically, quasi-set theory offers us some sort of logical apparatus for questioning the need for identity in some branches of mathematics and theoretical physics. I also use this opportunity to discuss a misunderstanding about quasi-sets due mainly to Nicholas J. J. Smith, who argues, in a general way, that sense cannot be made of vague identity.

---

Export/Citation:

EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Sant'Anna, Adonai adonai@ufpr.br 0000-0003-3425-698X
Additional Information:	forthcoming in Festschrift in honor of Francisco Antonio Doria.
Keywords:	quasi-sets, identity, indistinguishability, epistemology
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Epistemology Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Logic Specific Sciences > Mathematics
Depositing User:	Adonai Sant'Anna
Date Deposited:	13 Sep 2018 00:21
Last Modified:	13 Sep 2018 00:21
Item ID:	15026
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Epistemology Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Logic Specific Sciences > Mathematics
Date:	2018
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15026

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item