{"product_id":"the-great-math-war-how-three-brilliant-minds-fought-for-the-foundations-of-mathematics-jason-socrates-bardi-hardcover","title":"The Great Math War: How Three Brilliant Minds Fought for the Foundations of Mathematics -- Jason Socrates Bardi, Hardcover","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eA stirring account of the mathematicians who went looking for the bedrock philosophical foundations of their field and witnessed a house of cards collapse instead \u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"A fascinating romp through one of the most consequential conflicts of the early 20th century.\"--Johnjoe McFadden, author of\u003ci\u003e Life on the Edge\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e As the nineteenth century ended, mathematicians were celebrating a century of triumphs that--surprisingly--made clear how little they knew: What is the nature of infinity? Is math free from self-contradiction? And what does math have to do with reality? This was the Foundational Crisis in mathematics. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In \u003ci\u003eThe Great Math War, \u003c\/i\u003e Jason Socrates Bardi tells the story of three competing efforts by mathematicians to resolve it--and the firefight that ensued. Bertrand Russell thought we could achieve certainty if we treated math as an extension of logic. David Hilbert believed redemption lay in accepting mathematics as a formal game of arbitrary rules, no different from the moves and pieces in chess. And L. E. J. Brouwer argued math is entirely rooted in human intuition--and that math is not based on logic but rather logic is based on math. It was a bitter struggle, intellectually and personally, as the three vied to set the course for mathematics in the twentieth century. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Set against the backdrop of international warfare unfolding alongside it, \u003ci\u003eThe Great Math War \u003c\/i\u003ebrings the Foundational Crisis to radiant life--and shows how it indelibly shaped twentieth-century intellectual life.\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Jason Socrates Bardi\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Basic Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublished:\u003c\/strong\u003e 11\/4\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 416\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.45 lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9.4\" H x 6.2\" L x 1.6\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9781541605008\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Flowerburst","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50769100079408,"sku":"9781541605008","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2712\/8368\/files\/9781541605008_94658225-0d04-4bbb-9d7d-14127758a032.jpg?v=1775345170","url":"https:\/\/flowerburst.co\/products\/the-great-math-war-how-three-brilliant-minds-fought-for-the-foundations-of-mathematics-jason-socrates-bardi-hardcover","provider":"Flowerburst","version":"1.0","type":"link"}