Mystic, Geometer, and Intuitionist: The Life of L. E. J. Brouwer Volume 2: Hope and Disillusion

by van Dalen, Dirk

• ISBN13: 9780198516200
• ISBN10: 0198516207
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-10-20
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Luitzen Egbertus Jan Brouwer is a remarkable figure, both in the development of mathematics and in wider Dutch history. A mathematical genius with strong mystical and philosophical leanings, he advocated the intuitionist view of mathematics and science as a constructive mental activity. Thisdrew him into a discussion with David Hilbert, the leading advocate of the formalist school, about the nature of mathematics, a debate which made Brouwer a legend during his lifetime. He also contributed significantly to research in topology, and was a member of the socio- linguistic SignificCircle. As well as his diverse mathematical interests he had a great impact in wider Dutch society. His keen sense of justice made him a party in many conflicts, both scientific and political. He would often be involved in controversial issues, such as the campaign to undo the boycott of Germanscientists, and this made him a figure both of admiration and embarrassment in his native Holland. Although his abilities won him offers from prestigious universities such as Berlin and Gottingen, he preferred to stay in Amsterdam, so that he could pursue a life of quiet unconventionality in theartist community at Laren. This book provides a sophisticated analysis of this crucial era of mathematical research, but also gives an important insight into the wider life of one of the most fascinating characters involved. This book is available at the specially discounted price of L49.95 tocustomers in the Netherlands.

Table of Contents

The Fathers of Dimension	441	(40)
The two Russians	441	(3)
The definition of dimension	444	(23)
The Viennese connection	467	(3)
The scientific legacy of Urysohn	470	(11)
Progress, recognition, and frictions	481	(57)
The first skirmishes in the foundational conflict	481	(12)
Consolidation and entrenchment	493	(10)
The Riemann volume	503	(5)
International relations	508	(6)
The Dutch topological school	514	(24)
From Berlin to Vienna	538	(35)
More intuitionism	538	(2)
Feelings of crisis and German science	540	(4)
The Berlin lectures	544	(17)
The Vienna lectures	561	(8)
Other activities	569	(4)
The three Battles	573	(99)
The Grundlagenstreit	573	(14)
The Bologna conference	587	(12)
The war of the frogs and the mice	599	(37)
The endings of the Grundlagenstreit	636	(7)
The Menger conflict	643	(29)
The Thirties	672	(66)
Freudenthal arrives	673	(3)
Intuitionistic logic	676	(2)
The Sodalitas affair	678	(15)
Gottingen's fate under the Nazi's	693	(2)
Bieberbach's conversion	695	(8)
Compositio Mathematica	703	(7)
Gottingen reconsidered?	710	(5)
Dutch affairs	715	(23)
War and Occupation	738	(39)
Occupied Holland	738	(2)
Weitzenbock's choice	740	(2)
Freudenthal dismissed	742	(4)
University---resistance or survival	746	(5)
Freudenthal's fortunes	751	(8)
The declaration of loyalty	759	(11)
The Brouwer family in wartime	770	(4)
Weitzenbock in uniform	774	(3)
Postwar Events	777	(83)
Purging the university	777	(22)
Faculty politics	799	(15)
Back to research	814	(19)
The loss of Compositio Mathematica	833	(13)
Rearguard actions	846	(14)
The restless Emeritus	860	(53)
The traveller	860	(27)
The pharmacy	887	(8)
The last years	895	(12)
Epilogue	907	(6)
Appendix	913	(7)
Dissertations under supervision of Brouwer	913	(1)
Correspondence and Archives	913	(4)
Chronology	917	(3)
References	920	(15)
Index	935