Axiom:Axiom of Infinity/Historical Note
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Historical Note on Axiom of Infinity
Mathematicians had unsuccessfully attempted to prove the existence of an infinite set using existing axioms.
Ernst Zermelo determined in $1908$ that it was necessary to assume the existence of such a set by creating an axiom specifically for that task.
Hence his introduction of the Axiom of Infinity.
Sources
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): axiom of infinity
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): axiom of infinity