A Glorious History and an Uncertain Future—Reading Mathematics and the Quest for Knowledge

A Glorious History and an Uncertain Future—Reading Mathematics and the Quest for Knowledge

The author of this book carefully steers around the technical details of mathematics. Instead, he paints in broad outline a magnificent panorama of the progress of human knowledge, with mathematics as the brightest and most central presence in that picture.

The book mentions many people and events, some familiar and some not. Out of reverence for God or a longing for truth, these figures—through astonishing gifts and determination—led humanity step by step toward uncovering the secrets of the world, or at least what we take to be its secrets.

Yet as mathematics has become increasingly detached from practical use, its meaning and function have also become understandable only to a small minority. Even in the eyes of a master like the author, the present and the future appear far less clear than the past.

Indeed, one only has to look at the titles of works from the nineteenth century to feel uneasy about the current state of scientific and technological progress. Today, no one dares with complete confidence to propose an entirely new field of learning. No one dares to title a work with words like “Principles,” “Elements,” or “Foundations.” The forest of science has grown ever denser and more intricate, yet not a single branch seems able to reach beyond the walls already enclosing it.

The theme of mathematics and knowledge touches on the very foundations of human existence, so in the course of discussing it, the book inevitably rises to the level of philosophy. Here the author’s handling is just right: he accurately and clearly introduces the major schools of thought, their leading figures, and their views, without causing the reader to lose their way in a labyrinth of speculation. To enlighten the mind—perhaps that is just what a good book should do.