Difference between revisions of "Russell's Paradox"
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The '''Russell's Paradox''', credited to Bertrand Russell, was one of those which forced the axiomatization of set theory. | The '''Russell's Paradox''', credited to Bertrand Russell, was one of those which forced the axiomatization of set theory. | ||
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We start with the property P: (x does not belong to x). We define C to be the collection of all x with the property P. Now comes the question: does C have the property P? Assuming it does, it cannot be in itself, in spite of satisfying its own membership criterion, a contradiction. Assuming it doesn't, it must be in itself, in spite of not satisfying its own membership criterion. This is the paradox. | We start with the property P: (x does not belong to x). We define C to be the collection of all x with the property P. Now comes the question: does C have the property P? Assuming it does, it cannot be in itself, in spite of satisfying its own membership criterion, a contradiction. Assuming it doesn't, it must be in itself, in spite of not satisfying its own membership criterion. This is the paradox. | ||
Revision as of 17:57, 12 May 2023
The Russell's Paradox, credited to Bertrand Russell, was one of those which forced the axiomatization of set theory.
Paradox We start with the property P: (x does not belong to x). We define C to be the collection of all x with the property P. Now comes the question: does C have the property P? Assuming it does, it cannot be in itself, in spite of satisfying its own membership criterion, a contradiction. Assuming it doesn't, it must be in itself, in spite of not satisfying its own membership criterion. This is the paradox.
