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)

    “For it is not the bare words but the scope of the writer that gives the true light, by which any writing is to be interpreted; and they that insist upon single texts, without considering the main design, can derive no thing from them clearly.”
    —Thomas Hobbes (1579–1688)

    “As men’s habits of mind differ, so that some more readily embrace one form of faith, some another, for what moves one to pray may move another to scoff, I conclude ... that everyone should be free to choose for himself the foundations of his creed, and that faith should be judged only by its fruits.”
    —Baruch (Benedict)

    “I’ve never laid a cane on the back of a lord before, but if you force me to I shall speedily become used to the practice.”
    —Stanley Kubrick (b. 1928)