Quote:
Originally posted by stingc
I doubt more than ten people have ever read those books. They are probably the most obtuse things in the english language (if you can call it that!). There's maybe one or two english words per page. The rest is written entirely with the symbols of formal logic.
The books were important, though, because they investigated the precise use of logic, and the minimal set of axioms necessary for mathematics (if such a thing existed). Its failure to accomplish those goals were a very strong statement about what mathematics (and logic) means.
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I've read a lot about these guys lately and I checked Amazon.com for a copy.
Its only a merely $642.00 for the 3-vol set.  I think I'll find a library instead.
Principia Mathematica At Amazon Link
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