Naming Infinity: A True Story of Religious Mysticism and Mathematical Creativity A True Story of Religious Mysticism and Mathematical Creativity

In 1913, Russian imperial marines stormed an Orthodox monastery at Mt. Athos, Greece, to haul off monks engaged in a dangerously heretical practice known as Name Worshipping. Exiled to remote Russian outposts, the monks and their mystical movement went underground. Ultimately, they came across Russian intellectuals who embraced Name Worshipping—and who would achieve one of the biggest mathematical breakthroughs of the twentieth century, going beyond recent French achievements. Loren Graham and Jean-Michel Kantor take us on an exciting mathematical mystery tour as they unravel a bizarre tale of political struggles, psychological crises, sexual complexities, and ethical dilemmas. At the core of this book is the contest between French and Russian mathematicians who sought new answers to one of the oldest puzzles in math: the nature of infinity. The French school chased rationalist solutions. The Russian mathematicians, notably Dmitri Egorov and Nikolai Luzin—who founded the famous Moscow School of Mathematics—were inspired by mystical insights attained during Name Worshipping. Their religious practice appears to have opened to them visions into the infinite—and led to the founding of descriptive set theory. The men and women of the leading French and Russian mathematical schools are central characters in this absorbing tale that could not be told until now. Naming Infinity is a poignant human interest story that raises provocative questions about science and religion, intuition and ­creativity. (20090310)

in 1913, Russian Imperial Marines Stormed An Orthodox Monastery At Mt. Athos, Greece, To Haul Off Monks Engaged In A Dangerously Heretical Practice Known As Name Worshipping. Exiled To Remote Russian Outposts, The Monks And Their Mystical Movement Went Underground. Ultimately, They Came Across Russian Intellectuals Who Embraced Name Worshipping—and Who Would Achieve One Of The Biggest Mathematical Breakthroughs Of The Twentieth Century, Going Beyond Recent French Achievements.

loren Graham And Jean-michel Kantor Take Us On An Exciting Mathematical Mystery Tour As They Unravel A Bizarre Tale Of Political Struggles, Psychological Crises, Sexual Complexities, And Ethical Dilemmas. At The Core Of This Book Is The Contest Between French And Russian Mathematicians Who Sought New Answers To One Of The Oldest Puzzles In Math: The Nature Of Infinity. The French School Chased Rationalist Solutions. The Russian Mathematicians, Notably Dmitri Egorov And Nikolai Luzin—who Founded The Famous Moscow School Of Mathematics—were Inspired By Mystical Insights Attained During Name Worshipping. Their Religious Practice Appears To Have Opened To Them Visions Into The Infinite—and Led To The Founding Of Descriptive Set Theory.

the Men And Women Of The Leading French And Russian Mathematical Schools Are Central Characters In This Absorbing Tale That Could Not Be Told Until Now. naming Infinity Is A Poignant Human Interest Story That Raises Provocative Questions About Science And Religion, Intuition And ­creativity.

john Wilson - Christianity Today

fifty Years Ago, C. P. Snow Gave A Soon-to-be Famous Lecture On The Two Cultures Of Modern Society, The Culture Of The Humanities And The Culture Of Science, And The Need To Bridge The Gap Between Them. Today We Are More Likely To Hear Debates About The Alleged Gulf Between Science And Religion. Both Divides Are Bridged In This Superb Book, Which Takes Us From French Rationalism At The Turn Of The 20th Century To A Thriving Center Of World-class Mathematics In Moscow, Where The Presiding Figures Were Also Devout Russian Orthodox Believers Of A Mystical Bent.

Contents......Page 6 Illustrations......Page 8 Introduction......Page 14 Storming a Monastery......Page 20 A Crisis in Mathematics......Page 32 The French Trio: Borel, Lebesgue, Baire......Page 46 The Russian Trio: Egorov, Luzin, Florensky......Page 79 Russian Mathematics and Mysticism......Page 104 The Legendary Lusitania......Page 114 Fates of the Russian Trio......Page 138 Lusitania and After......Page 175 The Human in Mathematics, Then and Now......Page 201 Luzin’s Personal Archives......Page 218 Notes......Page 225 Acknowledgments......Page 241 Index......Page 244 The intellectual drama will attract readers who are interested in mystical religion and the foundations of mathematics. The personal drama will attract readers who are interested in a human tragedy with characters who met their fates with exceptional courage--Freeman Dyson