Sponsored by the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies Dr. Scott Rodney of CBU’s Department of Math, Physics & Geology will lead a discussion on the nature of Mathematics on Friday, April 8 at noon in classroom CE 317.
The CBU’s Web site reassures us that:
“the talk is for a general audience, and does not presuppose technical expertise in either mathematics or logic. Using the framework of Bertrand Russell’s attempt at formalization, Professor Rodney’s talk introduces listeners to the revolutionary import of the new logic.
The revolution in logic that occurred at the beginning of the 20th century was a watershed in logic, the greatest since Aristotle. Apart from its intrinsic interest, the new logic taught us lessons about the extent and limitations of the human mind. It also played a fundamental role in the development of computers.
The new logic was motivated by an attempt to show that mathematics (in particular arithmetic) is part of logic, or is derivable from the concepts of logic. In pursuing this task, logicians produced revolutionary insights into the concepts of number and mathematical truth, and thereby shed light on questions that have perplexed human beings from the time of the ancient Greeks.”
No mathematician myself, one detail of the event does ring clear. Lunch will be provided.
