R010100: Russell's
Mathematical Journey
- Monk, Ray. Bertrand Russell. The Great Philosophers
Series, no. 7. Phoenix, London; Rutledge, NY (London: 1997, New
York: 1999). ISBN 0-415-92386-7 pbk. 58pp.
This tiny book amazes me. Rather
than attempt a biography, Monk focuses on one theme of Russell's
life: his adventure with mathematics and the drive to reduce all of
mathematics to logic, crystallized as a pristine whole of pure beauty --
the ultimate achievement of rational thought. Retracing the
inspiration, successes, and ultimate defeat of that program,
interpolating through the stages of Russell's own writings, Monk
provides us with a glimpse of the integrity of a life committed to
taking a major philosophical inquiry to an unwanted and discouraging
conclusion. In retracing the path of Russell's mathematical
passion, Monk provides brief thumbnails of the major concepts that
illuminated the route to today's mathematical logic and its foundational
construction: one that in itself demonstrates the impossibility of a
purely logical system that resolves all of mathematics as a wonder of
deductive reasoning. dh: 2001-01-02.
A version of the above précis is available on
amazon.com.
Last updated
2001-02-11-08:45 -0800 (pst)
Here we want to create a chronology of Russell's development of
mathematical logic, the people who inspired him at different stages, and the
key concepts and perspectives that occured at each major point. We can
use Monk's progression and then deepen it as we dig into Russell's work
directly.
| Time Period |
Development |
Description |
| 1883:
age 11 |
Power
of deductive systems. A concern for reliance on axioms as premises
for mathematics. Desire to found all knowledge on a foundation
like Euclid's. |
Love
for mathematics inspired by Euclid's geometry. The prospect of
knowing something with complete certainty, once and for all. |
| |
Platonic
idealism. Elevation of Pythagorous as the kind of philosopher to
become. |
Belief
in eternal and exact truth of mathematics being about ideals. |
| 1900:
age 38 |
Principia
Mathematica completed |
|
| |
|
|
created 2001-01-02-22:56 -0800 (pst) by orcmid
$$Author: Orcmid $
$$Date: 03-05-25 10:50 $
$$Revision: 8 $
Home