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L.E.J. Brouwer – Topologist, Intuitionist, Philosopher

How Mathematics Is Rooted in Life

  • Book
  • © 2013

Overview

Authors:
  1. Dirk Dalen

    1. Department of Philosophy, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands

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  • The only comprehensive biography of L.E.J. Brouwer, the famous Dutch mathematician and philosopher

  • Contains background information on the beginnings of algebraic topology

  • Explores how mathematics was affected by the conflicts of the twentieth century

  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (18 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-XII
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Child and Student

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 1-37

  3. Mathematics and Mysticism

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 39-76

  4. The Dissertation

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 77-117

  5. Cantor–Schoenflies Topology

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 119-148

  6. The New Topology

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 149-192

  7. Making a Career

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 193-229

  8. The War Years

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 231-277

  9. Mathematics After the War

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 279-325

  10. Politics and Mathematics

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 327-356

  11. The Breakthrough

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 357-394

  12. The Fathers of Dimension

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 395-434

  13. Progress, Recognition, and Frictions

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 435-490

  14. From Berlin to Vienna

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 491-525

  15. The Three Battles

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 527-601

  16. The Thirties

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 603-662

  17. War and Occupation

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 663-700

  18. Postwar Events

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 701-781

  19. The Restless Emeritus

    • Dirk van Dalen
    Pages 783-832

  20. Back Matter

    Pages 833-875
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Keywords

About this book

Dirk van Dalen’s biography studies the fascinating life of the famous Dutch mathematician and philosopher Luitzen Egbertus Jan Brouwer. Brouwer belonged to a special class of genius; complex and often controversial and gifted with a deep intuition, he had an unparalleled access to the secrets and intricacies of mathematics. Most mathematicians remember L.E.J. Brouwer from his scientific breakthroughs in the young subject of topology and for the famous Brouwer fixed point theorem. Brouwer’s main interest, however, was in the foundation of mathematics which led him to introduce, and then consolidate, constructive methods under the name ‘intuitionism’. This made him one of the main protagonists in the ‘foundation crisis’ of mathematics. As a confirmed internationalist, he also got entangled in the interbellum struggle for the ending of the boycott of German and Austrian scientists. This time during the twentieth century was turbulent; nationalist resentment and friction between formalism and intuitionism led to the Mathematische Annalen conflict ('The war of the frogs and the mice'). It was here that Brouwer played a pivotal role. The present biography is an updated revision of the earlier two volume biography in one single book. It appeals to mathematicians and anybody interested in the history of mathematics in the first half of the twentieth century.

Reviews

From the book reviews:

“Van Dalen’s biography of Brouwer should be read by anyone interested in the great man’s life. It is a marvellously researched, non-judgmental, and comprehensive book that touches on all aspects of Brouwer’s life and his cultural and intellectual milieu. … As far as the style is concerned, the writing is clear and engaging.” (A. C. Paseau, The Mathematical Gazette, Vol. 98 (543), November, 2014)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Philosophy, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands

    Dirk Dalen

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: L.E.J. Brouwer – Topologist, Intuitionist, Philosopher

  • Book Subtitle: How Mathematics Is Rooted in Life

  • Authors: Dirk Dalen

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4616-2

  • Publisher: Springer London

  • eBook Packages: Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Statistics (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag London 2013

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4471-4615-5Published: 04 December 2012

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4471-6990-1Published: 23 August 2016

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-4471-4616-2Published: 04 December 2012

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XII, 875

  • Additional Information: First edition published in two volumes as "Mystic, Geometer, and Intuitionist: The Life of L.E.J. Brouwer" by Oxford University Press in 1999 and 2004

  • Topics: History of Mathematical Sciences, Topology, Mathematical Logic and Foundations, Popular Science, general

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