# Background & Advice for a self-learner of Descriptive Set Theory

A rather straight to the point soft-question: What kind of background should have somebody who wants to study properly descriptive set theory?

More specifically, how much analysis should she/he know?
Beyond the actual amount of knowledge, how well should this person deal with standard $\epsilon - \delta$ arguments?

Do you have any advice for somebody who wants to embark in this project?

Please, notice that I am completely self-taught, thus I have the feeling that the advice you would give to somebody who can be in some way tutored could be slightly different.

• This will be based on long-ago memories of having studied set theory, but I'd say that if you are comfortable with general topology and measure theory, that should be enough. I imagine it is difficult to acquire a sufficient level of competence in these areas without having gone through the $\epsilon--\delta$ stage of analysis first. When I studied logic, I remember seeing classmates with less background in "regular" math, who were coming from computer science or philosophy, and they had trouble even in the parts that had no direct prerequisites. The reason is that the process of learning ... – user204305 Jan 8 '15 at 3:58