The Mathematical Works of Bernard Bolzano

Description

This volume offers a definitive introduction to the groundbreaking mathematical thought of Bernard Bolzano (1781–1848), one of the most important yet historically underrecognized figures in the development of modern mathematics and logic. Edited and contextualized by Steve Russ, The Mathematical Works of Bernard Bolzano presents a curated selection of Bolzano’s key writings, many of which anticipated later developments in analysis, set theory, and formal logic—decades ahead of thinkers like Cantor, Dedekind, and Weierstrass. Bolzano's concept of rigor, his early formulation of the intermediate value theorem, and his logical innovations laid essential groundwork for the arithmetization of analysis. This collection highlights Bolzano’s insistence on logical clarity, mathematical rigor, and a deep philosophical foundation for mathematics. Russ provides clear commentary and historical background, making Bolzano’s highly original and often challenging work accessible to both scholars and students of mathematics, logic, and the philosophy of science. Far more than a historical curiosity, this book reveals Bolzano as a visionary whose ideas remain relevant in contemporary mathematical thought.