Fundamental Conceptions of Modern Mathematics: Variables and Quantities; With a Discussion of the General Conception of Functional Relation (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Robert P. Richardson

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0332823679 ISBN 13: 9780332823676

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Explore how core ideas in mathematics are defined and understood, from numbers to functions, with clear historical and conceptual context.

In this scholarly volume, readers are guided through foundational questions about what counts as a number, what makes a function, and how definitions shape mathematical practice. The text traces debates about the nature of quantity, symbols versus objects, and the language mathematicians use to describe abstract concepts. It presents critical perspectives on classic ideas, including how historical definitions and terminology evolved, and what this means for modern analysis.

With careful discussion and illustrative examples, the book helps readers see how different traditions influence the way we think about analytic truth, continuity, and the structure of functional relations. It situates these ideas within a broad view of mathematical development, inviting readers to consider how definitions affect problem solving and theory building.

• Explanations of what makes a relation analytic or non-analytic, and how continuity matters.
• Discussion of how symbols, terms, and quantities relate in counting and number theory.
• Historical perspectives on key definitions of function and their implications for practice.
• Examples that connect foundational questions to broader themes in modern mathematics.

Ideal for readers of mathematical history and philosophy who want a rigorous, accessible primer on the underpinnings of modern analysis.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0332823679
• ISBN 13: 9780332823676
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 247