Re: Continuum hypothesis

Daryl McCullough wrote:
One would think that such results would imply that the continuum
hypothesis has no significant consequences for applied mathematics.

Right, and the stronger result of Platek that the generalised
continuum hypothesis is conservative for Sigma-2-1 statements (and
thus for all of second order arithmetic) would further bolster the
suspicion. On the other hand, theoretical physics is often highly
abstract, dealing with all sorts of fancy stuff, even if in the end
the applications made of the physics could be carried out in suitable
subsystems of second-order arithmetic. Of course I'm almost totally
ignorant of any actual physics and am relying entirely on what I've
been told by some who aren't.

--
Aatu Koskensilta (aatu.koskensilta@xxxxxxxxx)

"Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, daruber muss man schweigen"
- Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

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