1
$\begingroup$

In the article Quine’s New Foundations of The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2019 Edition), Thomas Forster writes:

In [1944] Hailperin gave the first of a number of finite axiomatisations of NF now known. Many of them exploit the function $x\mapsto \{y|x\in y\}$ which is injective and total and is an $\in$-isomorphism. This function was known to Whitehead, who suggested to Quine that $\{y|x\in y\}$ should be called the “essence” of $x$ (a terminology clearly suggested by a view of sets as properties-in-extension).

How did Alfred North Whitehead communicate the essential point of view to Quine?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
6
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ In what sense "communicate to"? Quine's thesis supervisor was Alfred North Whitehead. $\endgroup$
    – Mauro ALLEGRANZA
    Nov 17 at 13:31
  • $\begingroup$ @MauroALLEGRANZA Thanks for the supervisor information. It would be nice to have a quotable reference, if that is available. $\endgroup$
    – Frode Alfson Bjørdal
    Nov 19 at 22:46
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Possible sources to be checked: Quine's Set Theory and its Logic (1969) and Whitehead and the rise of modern logic (1941=. $\endgroup$
    – Mauro ALLEGRANZA
    Nov 20 at 11:09
  • $\begingroup$ Having said that, the analogy is quite reasonable, equating the essence with the collection of all properties. $\endgroup$
    – Mauro ALLEGRANZA
    Nov 20 at 12:13
  • $\begingroup$ @MauroALLEGRANZA Thanks! I got hold of the texts. :) Yes, the term is quite appropriate. $\endgroup$
    – Frode Alfson Bjørdal
    Nov 21 at 20:13

0

Reset to default

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.