On the Relations between Georg Cantor and Richard Dedekind

Abstract

This paper gives a detailed analysis of the scientific interaction between Cantor and Dedekind, which was a very important aspect in the history of set theory during the 19th century. A factor that hindered their relationship turns out to be the tension which arose in 1874, due to Cantor′s publication of a paper based in part on letters from his colleague. In addition, we review their two most important meetings (l872, 1882) in order to establish the possible exchange of ideas connected with set theory. The one-week meeting in Harzburg (September I 882) was particularly rich in consequences, among other things Dedekind′s proof of the Cantor-Bernstein equivalence theorem. But the analysis of this episode will corroborate the lack of collaboration between both mathematicians. © 1993 Academic Press. All rights reserved.