Not to be confused with the philosophy of mathematics, mathematical
philosophy is the structured set of rules that govern all existence. Or,
in a word: logic. While this branch of philosophy threatens to be an
intimidating and abstract subject, it is one that is surprisingly simple
and necessarily sensible, particularly at the pen of writer Bertrand
Russell, who infuses this work, first published in 1919, with a palpable
and genuine desire to assist the reader in understanding the principles
he illustrates. Anyone interested in logic and its development and
application here will find a comprehensive and accessible account of
mathematical philosophy, from the idea of what numbers actually are,
through the principles of order, limits, and deduction, and on to
infinity. British philosopher and mathematician BERTRAND ARTHUR WILLIAM
RUSSELL (1872-1970) won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950. Among
his many works are Why I Am Not a Christian (1927), Power: A New Social
Analysis (1938), and My Philosophical Development (1959).