Re: non-Hausdoff topology

["Robert J. MacG. Dawson" <rdawson@cs.smu.ca>]

On 7/7/2010 5:31 AM, Paul Taylor wrote:
> Non-Hausdorff topologies, in particular the Scott topology, have been
> one of the most important features of mathematics applied to computer
> science over the past forty years.
>
> Surely it is now time for this material to be included in the standard
> undergraduate curriculum for general topology in pure mathematics
> degree programmes.

Dear Paul et al:

 	I certainly learned about non-Hausdorff topologies in the topology
course I took as an undergraduate from Michael Edelstein at Dalhousie
(using Kelley's "General Topology" as a text).  The Zariski topology
also appeared in a couple courses, and various instructors recommended
the book "Counterexamples in Topology" by Steen and Seebach, which gives
a fairly good "tour of the zoo".

 	Nonetheless, thirty year later, I would certainly accept that a modern
treatment of the topic would have a somewhat different focus, for
precisely the reasons that you give in your first paragraph.

 	-Robert


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