< mathematics > An implementation of ordinals in set theory (e.g. Zermelo Frnkel set theory or ZFC ). The von Neumann ordinal alpha is the well-ordered set containing just the ordinals "shorter" than alpha.
"Reasonable" set theories (like ZF) include Mostowski's Collapsing Theorem: any well-ordered set is isomorphic to a von Neumann ordinal. In really screwy theories (e.g. NFU -- New Foundations with Urelemente) this theorem is false.
The finite von Neumann ordinals are the von Neumann integers .
(1995-03-30)