Mathematics and Logic: Retrospect and Prospects (Dover Books on Mathematics)

Book Details

• Publisher: Dover

• Author: Kac, Mark

• Language: English

• Edition: New

• ISBN: 9780486670850

• Pages: 192

• Binding: Paperback

• Release Date: 01-05-1992

About The Book

"What Is Mathematics?" by Mark Kac offers a thought-provoking exploration into the nature of mathematics, its evolution, and its role in scientific thinking. The book poses fundamental questions: What is mathematics? How was it created? Who are the people behind its development, and how has it shaped our understanding of the world?

Beginning with problems involving integers and the concept of infinity, Kac traces the evolution of more abstract mathematical ideas, such as groups, transformations, and geometrical objects. The work examines how mathematicians began viewing sets of transformations as spaces, leading to the development of theories on structures in general. The book also delves into the relationship between mathematics and empirical disciplines, exploring the impact of high-speed computers on mathematical experimentation and posing intriguing questions about the role of "invention" versus "discovery" in mathematical progress.

This book is a stimulating read for mathematicians, physicists, and anyone interested in the evolution of mathematical thought. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the essential nature of mathematics and its profound influence on science and the intellectual development of humankind.