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valentinserrano 's review for:
2.5. I prefer "Brief history of the infinite" (worth reading), which offers more insights and nuances (and a linear discourse). In fact this book seems as a reduction of Zellini's best insights... Furthermore I don't engage with his style of writing, sometimes opaque for those not acquainted with the praxis of maths.
Anyway, this book has to be read with caution: it is not easy to grasp the intention of Zellini...Speculation? Scientism? Religion?. I won't take it as a defence of the misticism and absolute truth of maths, although some readers interpret that. Zellini quotes Veda's texts, Poincare, Bergson and Heidegger with respect, which clearly indicates openness and diversity of trends. He doesn't also deny Quine contributions against Cantor and Rusell's logicism.
In my opinion it is just an essay to reflect about the trascendence of maths during western history and how it has been put into relation with physics and reality...written by a math lover. The problem of this book is that, although some interesting insights can be found, he stays halfway...It lacks clarifications and anthropological grounds.
I recommend better to read, in addition to "Brief history of the infinite" (Zellini), authors such as John Barrow, Ian Hawkings and Enmanuel Lizcano. Different authors with different perspectives about maths (misticism, philosophy, constructivism...).
Anyway, this book has to be read with caution: it is not easy to grasp the intention of Zellini...Speculation? Scientism? Religion?. I won't take it as a defence of the misticism and absolute truth of maths, although some readers interpret that. Zellini quotes Veda's texts, Poincare, Bergson and Heidegger with respect, which clearly indicates openness and diversity of trends. He doesn't also deny Quine contributions against Cantor and Rusell's logicism.
In my opinion it is just an essay to reflect about the trascendence of maths during western history and how it has been put into relation with physics and reality...written by a math lover. The problem of this book is that, although some interesting insights can be found, he stays halfway...It lacks clarifications and anthropological grounds.
I recommend better to read, in addition to "Brief history of the infinite" (Zellini), authors such as John Barrow, Ian Hawkings and Enmanuel Lizcano. Different authors with different perspectives about maths (misticism, philosophy, constructivism...).