Primitive notions


Samson Corwell

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Primitive? Primitive, you say? What!? You're saying I have primitive notions!?

Well, yes, I am.

I've seen some threads where this topic might be of help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primitive_notion

As expressed by the good folks at everyone's favorite online encyclopedia: "In mathematics, logic, and formal systems, a primitive notion is an undefined concept. In particular, a primitive notion is not defined in terms of previously defined concepts, but is only motivated informally, usually by an appeal to intuition and everyday experience. In an axiomatic theory or other formal system, the role of a primitive notion is analogous to that of axiom. In axiomatic theories, the primitive notions are sometimes said to be "defined" by one or more axioms, but this can be misleading. Formal theories cannot dispense with primitive notions, under pain of infinite regress.".

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Primitive? Primitive, you say? What!? You're saying I have primitive notions!?

Well, yes, I am.

I've seen some threads where this topic might be of help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primitive_notion

As expressed by the good folks at everyone's favorite online encyclopedia: "In mathematics, logic, and formal systems, a primitive notion is an undefined concept. In particular, a primitive notion is not defined in terms of previously defined concepts, but is only motivated informally, usually by an appeal to intuition and everyday experience. In an axiomatic theory or other formal system, the role of a primitive notion is analogous to that of axiom. In axiomatic theories, the primitive notions are sometimes said to be "defined" by one or more axioms, but this can be misleading. Formal theories cannot dispense with primitive notions, under pain of infinite regress.".

all theories require a starting point.

Ba'al Chatzaf

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