Definition:Set Theory/Historical Note

Historical Note on Set Theory
Set theory arose from an attempt to comprehend the question: "What is a number?"

The main initial development of the subject was in fact not directly generated as a result of trying to answer this question, but as a result of 's work around $1870$ to understand the nature of infinite series and related subjects.

As a result of this he began to consider the nature of infinite collections of general object, not just numbers.


 *  ....is usually considered the founder of set theory as a mathematical discipline ...
 * -- : (1960, 2nd ed. 1972)