01-25-2005, 03:07 AM
Let me add the mathematics bit of 'unity' and 'multiplicity'.
Set Theory has become the language of mathematics. A multiplicity of objects can be put together and called a set, a unity. For many puposes a 'set' behaves pretty much like a 'bunch' of flowers. But in many cases it seems to be more than that. For example, the set of real numbers is never given by enumerating all the real numbers as there are uncountably infinite number of them. But there are many ways to define the Real number set without any amibguity. Here one wonders whether the real number set is merely a collection of its elements (which can't all be listed), or there is more to it.
Set Theory has become the language of mathematics. A multiplicity of objects can be put together and called a set, a unity. For many puposes a 'set' behaves pretty much like a 'bunch' of flowers. But in many cases it seems to be more than that. For example, the set of real numbers is never given by enumerating all the real numbers as there are uncountably infinite number of them. But there are many ways to define the Real number set without any amibguity. Here one wonders whether the real number set is merely a collection of its elements (which can't all be listed), or there is more to it.