Bolzano's philosophy and the emergence of modern mathematics

Paul Rusnock

Ladislav Kvasz

pp. 404-408

in: Michael Heidelberger, Friedrich Stadler (eds), History of philosophy of science, Berlin, Springer, 2002

Abstract

The book is a detailed and penetrating study of the relations between Bolzano's philosophical views and his mathematical achievements. It opens with a Biographical sketch, written with a good understanding of the political situation in Central Europe at Bolzano's times. The words of the Emperor Francis II: "I do not need scholars but obedient citizens" (p. 8), and of an English visitor of Austria at those times: "These school-books are the most barren and stupid extracts which ever left the printing press." (p. 9) express the problems of the intellectuals in this part of the world.

Cited authors

Bolzano Bernard