Representations and the foundations of mathematics

Abstract: The representation of mathematical objects in terms of (more) basic ones is part and parcel of (the foundations of) mathematics. In the usual foundations of mathematics, i.e. $\textsf{ZFC}$ set theory, all mathematical objects are represented by sets, while ordinary, i.e. non-set theoretic, mathematics is represented in the more parsimonious language of second-order arithmetic. This paper deals with the latter representation for the rather basic case of continuous functions on the reals and Baire space. We show that the logical strength of basic theorems named after Tietze, Heine, and Weierstrass, changes significantly upon the replacement of 'second-order representations' to 'third-order functions'. We discuss the implications and connections to the Reverse Mathematics program and its foundational claims regarding predicativist mathematics and Hilbert's program for the foundations of mathematics. Finally, we identify the problem caused by representations of continuous functions and formulate a criterion to avoid problematic codings within the bigger picture of representations.