L.E.J. Brouwer – Topologist, Intuitionist, Philosopher
How Mathematics Is Rooted in Life
Authors: van Dalen, Dirk
Free Preview- 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
Buy this book
- 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)
- Table of contents (18 chapters)
-
-
Child and Student
Pages 1-37
-
Mathematics and Mysticism
Pages 39-76
-
The Dissertation
Pages 77-117
-
Cantor–Schoenflies Topology
Pages 119-148
-
The New Topology
Pages 149-192
-
Table of contents (18 chapters)
- Download Preface 1 PDF (62.8 KB)
- Download Sample pages 2 PDF (753.6 KB)
- Download Table of contents PDF (68.5 KB)
Recommended for you
Bibliographic Information
- Bibliographic Information
-
- Book Title
- L.E.J. Brouwer – Topologist, Intuitionist, Philosopher
- Book Subtitle
- How Mathematics Is Rooted in Life
- Authors
-
- Dirk van Dalen
- Copyright
- 2013
- Publisher
- Springer-Verlag London
- Copyright Holder
- Springer-Verlag London
- eBook ISBN
- 978-1-4471-4616-2
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-1-4471-4616-2
- Hardcover ISBN
- 978-1-4471-4615-5
- Softcover ISBN
- 978-1-4471-6990-1
- 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
