Problem understanding the Axiom of Foundation I am just beginning to learn the ZF axioms of set theory, and I am having trouble understanding the Axiom of Foundation. What exactly does it mean that "every non-empty set $x$ contains a member $y$ such that $x$ and $y$ are disjoint sets." In particular, how can $y$ be an element of a set $x$, and also be disjoint from it (I have seen this be called the epsilon-minimal element). My intuitive understanding of sets (which is obviously wrong) tells me that if $y$ is an element of $x$, then the intersection of $\{y\}$ and $x$ should be $\{y\}$. How can it be $\varnothing$? 

The axiom isn't saying that $x\cap \{y\}=\emptyset$. It's saying $x\cap y=\emptyset$. Keep in mind that in ZFC everything is a set, including the elements of other sets.
