Category Archives: Philosophy

Rory Sutherland reading list

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I just watched this presentation from Rory Sutherland: Rory Sutherland: Want Fewer People to go to A&E? Change the Name | Health | WIRED.

At the end he provides this reading list:

I don’t have the time (or money) to read all of those books, the book I picked to read was Nudge.

Leopold Kronecker and Georg Cantor

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The following is this from ChatGPT.

ChatGPT 4o

You said:

tell me about Leopold Kronecker and Georg Cantor

ChatGPT said:

Leopold Kronecker and Georg Cantor were both influential mathematicians in the 19th century, particularly known for their work in number theory and the foundations of mathematics, especially in the realm of set theory. Despite their shared contributions to mathematics, they had significantly different philosophies, leading to a famous intellectual clash.

Leopold Kronecker (1823–1891)

  • Background: Kronecker was a German mathematician born in what is now Poland. His early work focused on algebraic number theory and elliptic functions.
  • Philosophy: Kronecker was known for his finitist view, believing that mathematics should be grounded in finite processes and integers. He famously said, “God made the integers; all else is the work of man,” reflecting his skepticism of mathematical concepts that extended beyond whole numbers, such as irrational and imaginary numbers.
  • Opposition to Infinity: Kronecker was critical of the use of infinite sets and actual infinity, viewing them as metaphysical rather than mathematical. He opposed theories that relied on concepts he saw as unverifiable, which placed him at odds with his contemporaries who explored infinite sets.
  • Legacy: While Kronecker’s finitist approach limited his acceptance of certain ideas, his rigorous approach to numbers influenced the development of constructive mathematics and intuitionism.

Georg Cantor (1845–1918)

  • Background: Cantor, a German mathematician of Russian descent, is most famous for founding set theory, a significant milestone in modern mathematics.
  • Set Theory and Infinity: Cantor’s groundbreaking work involved formalizing the concept of infinity. He introduced the notion of different “sizes” or cardinalities of infinity, showing that some infinities are larger than others (e.g., the set of real numbers is “larger” than the set of natural numbers).
  • The Continuum Hypothesis: Cantor formulated the continuum hypothesis, a famous problem related to the cardinality of the real numbers, which became one of the most studied problems in set theory.
  • Conflict with Kronecker: Cantor’s work on infinite sets was revolutionary, but it attracted criticism, especially from Kronecker. Kronecker viewed Cantor’s ideas as overly abstract and not grounded in what he saw as “acceptable” mathematics. This opposition from a respected figure in the mathematical community contributed to Cantor’s struggles and led to isolation.
  • Legacy and Impact: Despite the initial resistance, Cantor’s ideas became fundamental to modern mathematics, influencing disciplines like logic, computer science, and philosophy. Set theory underpins much of contemporary mathematics and has shaped the development of various branches of theoretical math.

The Intellectual Clash

Kronecker and Cantor’s differing philosophies on the nature of mathematics epitomized a larger debate about the role of abstraction, infinity, and rigor in mathematics. While Kronecker sought to keep mathematics within the bounds of constructivism and the finite, Cantor’s work extended it into the transfinite, opening new realms that were later embraced by mathematicians worldwide. Their clash highlights one of the pivotal points in the philosophy of mathematics, influencing views on mathematical foundations for generations.

Homework

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This is a part of the homework feature of my blog, which is an ongoing conversation with my mate S.F.

Hey mate. Lovely to see you again, as always.

I ended up getting these cards printed at clickmedia.com.au to take with me on Wednesday to ElectroneX:

John's business card for In The Lab With Jay

I mentioned Iain McGilchrist, he’s a psychiatrist who dabbles in philosophy. I think he has a really excellent and interesting view of things. It’s hard to summarise his position but he is very interested in the difference in perceptive capabilities of the left and right hemispheres of the brain. He has a YouTube channel over here: @DrIainMcGilchrist and if you search for him you will find many a fascinating interview.

You told me to check out Succession (TV series).

I found the Four Corners video you mentioned, over here: Self-defence or genocide? Asking Israel’s powerful voices about Gaza | Four Corners.

I mentioned Eben Moglen, who has a website over here: moglen.law.columbia.edu. I find Eben inspirational. He’s always talking in grandiose eloquence about the importance of free software, if you search for him on YouTube you are bound to find something of interest.

I mentioned Annie Jacobsen, she’s a pretty interesting cat. She has written a number of books on conspiracy-theory-like topics. I recently read her book Nuclear War: A Scenario.

I have a note here that says “positive view on nihilism” but I forget what that was about. Something I wanted to tell you, now lost to time. But searching for ‘positive view on nihilism’ turns up a bunch of interesting results! (Oh. Wait. Found it! It’s a video I wanted you to see: Optimistic Nihilism.)

Oh, another note I don’t remember: “void of ‘huh'”. I assume we were being hilarious.

There is an urban myth that the first human projectile that made it into space was a manhole cover from nuclear testing facilities for Operation Plumbbob in 1957. I dunno if it’s true, but it’s a good story!