The Analyst, or a Discourse Addressed to an Infidel Mathematician: Wherein It Is Examined Whether the Object, Principles, and Inferences of the Modern Analysis Are More Distinctly Conceived, or More E - Hardcover

George Berkeley

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0265705525 ISBN 13: 9780265705520

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Questioning the foundations of modern analysis and the claims of mathematical authority — a sharp, accessible critique that compares fluxions to the mysteries of religious belief and asks who really controls mathematical truth.

This work presents a clear-eyed examination of the object, principles, and inferences used by 17th‑ and 18th‑century mathematicians. It invites readers to follow a skeptical inquiry into how ideas are formed, justified, and defended, while keeping the discussion grounded in concrete geometric and algebraic examples. The author adopts a candid, almost courtroom‑style voice to reveal the dangers of relying on assumed notations or unexamined premises.

What you’ll experience

• A historical look at fluxions, moments, and the move from geometry to calculus
• A measured critique of how mathematical arguments are structured and debated
• Plain, practical explanations for why some proofs rely on questionable assumptions
• A challenging conversation about what counts as evidence in mathematics

Ideal for readers of philosophy of mathematics, early science history, and anyone curious about how mathematical ideas are built—and questioned.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0265705525
• ISBN 13: 9780265705520
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 108