Set Theory: The Structure of Arithmetic

Set Theory: The Structure of Arithmetic, authored by Norman T. Hamilton and Joseph Landin, was published in 1961 as part of an effort to modernize undergraduate mathematics curricula. Emerging during the mid-20th century shift toward abstract structuralism, the text was designed to provide a rigorous, axiomatic foundation for arithmetic based on set theory. It sought to move away from the traditional, procedural approach to mathematics by emphasizing logical formalization and the construction of number systems from basic sets.

The book is noted for its pedagogical approach, which prioritizes the development of mathematical maturity through self-contained proofs and a systematic progression from basic set axioms to the properties of real numbers. Hamilton and Landin aimed to bridge the gap between intuitive calculus and abstract algebra for students. While it remains a niche academic text, it is regarded by mathematics historians as a clear representative of the rigorous 'new math' movement that influenced collegiate education in the United States during the post-Sputnik era.