Set Theory: An Introduction

by Robert L. Vaught and Robert L. Vaought

Book Overview

An excellent undergraduate text on set theory that could be used in courses taught in mathematics and philosophy departments. The intuitive development in the first chapters also makes the book suitable for self study. "The volume is in a clear and interesting style and is highly recommended to undergraduate students of mathematics as well as philosophy." --ACTA SCI. MATH.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0817642560
• ISBN13: 9780817642563
• Release Date: August 2001
• Publisher: Birkhauser
• Length: 167 Pages
• Weight: 0.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

geek review was uninformed

The Geek review was unfair and uninformed. All books are written from the point of view of the background of the author and Robert Vaught was a logician so naturally this introduction to set theory was written from the perspective of a logician and a great one at that. The author places great stress on being intuitive and natural while leaving to the reader things he ought to be able to figure out for himself. The book does require a careful and thoughtful reading but the reward is many insights contained in no other book on this subject. For example, the sections on definition by induction are as clearly written as I have ever seen. This book grabs the replacement axion or principle up front and treats it as obvious as any other axion contrary to the majority of set theory books. As the author says, he leaves well ordering to the last as he finds the proofs related to it more difficult as Cantor himself did. I could go on and on, but to summarize, this book is a goldmine of information on sets and should be revered. Those who think otherwise just aren't up to learning the basics with true understanding. As for the minor point of relying of the index of Frankel for the references, this was standard practice in his day and is a minor flaw.