On Mon, Jul 6, 2015 at 9:30 AM, Warren D Smith <warren.wds@gmail.com> wrote:
Is it the study of "numbers" and their descendants? How about set theory, topology, and logic as counterexamples?
I wouldn't consider those counterexamples. Set theory started with finite sets; Aristotle argued that natural numbers were only "potentially" infinite, not "actually" infinite. Topology started with the bridges of Konigsberg, Euler's formula V-E+F=2, and Lhuilier's generalization to polyhedra with higher genus V-E+F=2-2g. I'd say that logic started with bookkeeping (a lovely word with three consecutive double letters) and the rules of deduction in arithmetic. -- Mike Stay - metaweta@gmail.com http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~mike http://reperiendi.wordpress.com