[FOM] FOM: Set theory and ordinary language

Dean Buckner Dean.Buckner at btopenworld.com
Sat Dec 28 12:47:37 EST 2002


Consider ordinal descriptions, such as "the first man", "the second man",
"the third man" and so on, as they are used in ordinary language.

Suppose we can show that any sequence of such expressions (a) has a linear
ordering (b) has a first member (c) has a "last" member (d) contains no
"limit ordinal", ie. contains no ordinal without a direct predecessor.

Does this then guarantee that the sequence determines a finite set, and thus
a
set which is well-ordered, and thus a set to which for which finite
induction is automatically valid)?


Dean





More information about the FOM mailing list