Russell’s Two Lectures in China on Mathematical Logic (original) (raw)
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‘Qinghua School of Logic’: Mathematical Logic at Qinghua University in Peking, 1926-1945
History and Philosophy of Logic, 2021
Mathematical logic was first introduced to China in early 1920s. Although, the process of introduction was facilitated by the lectures of Bertrand Russel at Peking University in 1921 and continued by China’s most passionate adherents of Russell’s philosophy, the establishment of mathematical logic as an academic discipline occurred only in late 1920s, in the framework of a recently reorganised Qinghua University in Peking. The main aim of this paper is to shed some light on the process of establishment of mathematical logic at the department of philosophy at Qinghua University, between the years 1926 and 1945. In its main line of discussion, the article highlights the curricular developments at the department, connecting them with concrete theoretical endeavours by the leading members of the department. Furthermore, in its later parts, the article summarises the main advances made in the context of studies of modern logic at Qinghua University, from the expositions on the quintessential work Principia Mathematica, to the subsequent integration of criticisms coming from circles of logicians at Harvard University and ground-breaking contributions of Kurt Gödel in the mid-1930s.
History and Philosophy of Logic, 2021
In the years following Bertrand Russell's visit in China, fragments from Russell's work on mathematical logic and the foundations of mathematics started to enter the Chinese intellectual world. While up until 1925 Chinese intellectuals like Zhang Shenfu, Zhang Dongsun and others mainly contributed to the dissemination of general notions from Russell's logicism, epistemology as well as mathematical philosophy, two aspiring Chinese mathematicians, Fu Zhongsun and Zhang Bangming, introduced to Chinese readers the first Chinese translation of Russell's Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy. One year after the second edition of the book was published in 1924, Chinese intellectuals started to respond to Russell's "mathematical logic" and philosophy of mathematics, as contained in the work. Consequently, in 1925 the first public debate on this topic broke out in Chinese periodicals. This article aims at providing a summary of these 1925 discussions. It follows the main line of the debate from criticisms of Russell's work to a general debate on "infinitesimals" and "indefinitely cut wooden sticks." Through close examination of the arguments and discursive strategies used by the participants in the debate, the article tries to highlight the state of Chinese discourse on mathematical logic during the time in question as well as the foundations of mathematics, while also shedding some light on the mechanisms and strategies in the undergoing process of the adoption of Western scientific ideas.
Bertrand Russell's Contributions to the Study of Logic
2019
Bertrand Arthur William Russell (1872-1970) was a prolific, versatile and prominent British philosopher/mathematician who has been active in every major area of philosophy except aesthetics. While simultaneously having been notably prolific in the fields of metaphysics, philosophy of language, ethics and epistemology, Russell came to be widely regarded as one of the 20th century’s foremost logicians to such an extent that his name has become inseparable from any mention of mathematical logic. The principal goal of this present exposition will be the introduction of and expounding upon the intricate details of Russell’s lifelong logical output, as well as briefly sketching the historical progression and the contextual overview of the then-contemporary logic leading up to Russell’s efforts.
History and Philosophy of Logic, 2021
In the years following Bertrand Russell's visit in China, fragments from his work on mathematical logic and the foundations of mathematics started to enter the Chinese intellectual world. While up until 1925 Chinese intellectuals like Zhang Shenfu, Zhang Dongsun and others mainly contributed to the dissemination of general notions from Russell's logicism, epistemology and mathematical philosophy, two aspiring Chinese mathematicians, Fu Zhongsun and Zhang Bangming, introduced to Chinese readers the first Chinese translation of Russell's Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy. One year after the second edition of the book was published in 1924, Chinese intellectuals started to respond to Russell's 'mathematical logic' and philosophy of mathematics, as contained in the work. Consequently, in 1925 the first public debate on this topic broke out in Chinese periodicals. This article aims at providing a summary of these 1925 discussions, from criticisms of Russell's work to a general debate on 'infinitesimals'. Through close examination of the arguments and discursive strategies used in the debate, the article tries to highlight the state of Chinese discourse on mathematical logic during the time in question, while also shedding some light on the mechanisms and strategies in the undergoing process of the adoption of Western scientific ideas.
Chinese Research on Mathematical Logic and the Foundations of Mathematics
Asian Studies, 2022
This paper outlines the Chinese research on mathematical logic and the foundations of mathematics. Firstly, it presents the introduction and spread of mathematical logic in China, especially the teaching and translation of mathematical logic initiated by Bertrand Russell's lectures in the country. Secondly, it outlines the Chinese research on mathematical logic after the founding of the People's Republic of China. The research in this period experienced a short revival under the criticism of the Soviet Union, explorations under the heavy influence of the Cultural Revolution, and the vigorous development of mathematical logic teaching and research after the period of "Reform and Opening Up" that started in the late 1970s, and the full integration of Chinese mathematical logic research into the international academic circle in the new century after 2000. In the third part, it focuses on the unique and original results of the Chinese mathematical logic research teams from the following three aspects: medium logic, lattice implication algebras and their lattice-valued systems of logic, and Chinese notation of logical constants, which can be used as a substantive supplement to the relevant literature on the history of mathematical logic in China. The last part is a reflection on the shortcomings of contemporary Chinese research on mathematical logic and the foundations of mathematics.
Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science, Uppsala 1991, 1995
Bertrand Russell, in the first decade of this century, held an unconventional view of propositions. He took them to be complex abstract entities resembling logical formulas in their basic structure, but differing from formulas in that they may contain physical objects as constituents. The aim of this paper is to give an account of Russell's notion of a proposition during the period 1903-06, and to explore the extent to which the logic which coexisted with that account of propositions is feasible.
Workshop: Legacy of the Tsinghua Logic School 清华逻辑学派的传统 -JRC for Logic
2022
In 1926, recently graduated from Columbia University, Jin Yuelin came back to China and founded the Department of Philosophy at Tsinghua University. With new appointments of Shen Youding and Wang Xianjun in subsequent years, the logic group grew very fast and attracted many young talents. One prominent student of Jin Yuelin was Wang Hao, who later took his PhD degree at Harvard and became a well-known logician worldwide. This pioneering history was recorded in a recent article by Jan Vrhovski: “The Qinghua Logic School: Mathematical Logic at Qinghua University in Peking, 1926–1945”. In 1952, due to the policy of “reorganization of colleges and departments”, Tsinghua’s philosophy department was moved to Peking University. Wang Xianjun stayed there ever since, while Jin Yuelin and Shen Youding soon moved once more, to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. In this way the logic tradition spread. In 2000 Tsinghua officially restored its philosophy department with a focus in logic. In the last two decades, Tsinghua has been making lots of progress in logic, with several major appointments. (for more information see the website: www.tsinghualogic.net/JRC). On the occasion of Tsinghua University’s anniversary in April this year, we are organizing a small workshop to discuss the Tsinghua logic tradition, the ideas of the early founding logicians, and plans for our future development.
Russell's Conception of Logic in the Principles of Mathematics
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