[PREV - A_BEAUTY_COLD_AND_AUSTERE]    [TOP]

AD_MATHEMATICA_AD_NASEUM

                                             September 16, 2020

In our last episode, we left off with Bertrand
Russell's rhapsodies about the beauty of mathematics...

                A_BEAUTY_COLD_AND_AUSTERE

In that episode, we were indulging in an unbridled
sneerfest at Russell's expense, with some side remarks
expressing reservations about how standard rhetorical
maneuvers undercut the utility of using language as
a tool of thought.

   It might be fun to try going over the same piece
   of Russell's writings and just for funsies see
   what happens if I instead try raving about his
   prescient brilliance.


     For now I leave off with two points on
     which I might praise Russell:

       o  He is essentially talking about the "two
          cultures" problem-- and doing it a
          half-century before C.P. Snow got there:
          Philosophers don't learn much about
          mathematics, and mathematicians give
          short-shrift to philosophy, leaving
          odd characters like Russell working
          the region of overlap.


       o  The direction that Russell goes with
          this could easily become an attempt
          at the "two cultures crossover"
          that I occasionally speculate
          (fantisize?) about.

          The beauty of mathematical elegance,
          The utilty of practical math...




--------
[NEXT - WHATS_ZFC_DONE_FOR_ME]