Principia Mathematica - Scope of Foundations Laid

Scope of Foundations Laid

The Principia covered only set theory, cardinal numbers, ordinal numbers, and real numbers. Deeper theorems from real analysis were not included, but by the end of the third volume it was clear to experts that a large amount of known mathematics could in principle be developed in the adopted formalism. It was also clear how lengthy such a development would be.

A fourth volume on the foundations of geometry had been planned, but the authors admitted to intellectual exhaustion upon completion of the third.

Read more about this topic:  Principia Mathematica

Famous quotes containing the words scope of, scope, foundations and/or laid:

    Every person is responsible for all the good within the scope of his abilities, and for no more, and none can tell whose sphere is the largest.
    Gail Hamilton (1833–1896)

    As the creative adult needs to toy with ideas, the child, to form his ideas, needs toys—and plenty of leisure and scope to play with them as he likes, and not just the way adults think proper. This is why he must be given this freedom for his play to be successful and truly serve him well.
    Bruno Bettelheim (20th century)

    Society is held together by our need; we bind it together with legend, myth, coercion, fearing that without it we will be hurled into that void, within which, like the earth before the Word was spoken, the foundations of society are hidden.
    James Baldwin (1924–1987)

    Now that you are laid out,
    useless as a blind dog,
    now that you no longer lurk,
    the song rings in my head.
    Anne Sexton (1928–1974)