I hear about axioms in set theory and postulates in geometry, but they seem like the same thing. Do
patzeriap0
Answered question
2022-05-29
Answer & Explanation
Elbrinidr
Beginner2022-05-30Added 9 answers
The choice to use one particular term rather than the other is largely a function of the historical development of a given branch of math. E.g., geometry has roots in ancient Greece, where "postulate" was the word used by the Pythagoreans, et.al.
So it's largely a matter of history, and context, and the word favored by the mathematicians that introduced or made explicit their "axioms" or "postulates." "Postulate" was once favored over "Axiom", with the development of analytic philosophy, particularly logical positivism, the term "axiom" became the favored term, and its prevalence has persisted since. Perhaps I should be corrected: As Peter Smith points out, it is "more likely" that the "uptake" of the term "axiom" can be attributed to "mathematicians like Hilbert (who talks of axioms of geometry), Zermelo (who talks of axioms of set theory), etc.".
Neither term is more formal than the other. I personally prefer "postulate" over "axiom", since a "postulate" transparently conveys (or connotes - as in connotation) that what we are calling a postulate is "postulated" as a "supposition", from which we agree to work in building theorems or a theory. In contrast, to me, the connotation of an "axiom" is that of a "law" of some sort, which MUST be followed or MUST be true, though it is no stronger than, or different from, a postulate. But again, this is simply a personal observation and preference, and the term "axiom" seems to have more "uptake" at this point in history.
Aditya Erickson
Beginner2022-05-31Added 2 answers
These are just words indicating our basic assumptions of what is true in the universe.
To the edit, I think that axioms just got a better foothold as a term. The Peano Axioms are also known as Peano Postulates; and I have a book written by Tarski (Cardinal Algebras, 1949) in which he begins with Postulates rather than axioms.
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