The conference, titled 'How Was the Modern Idea of Infinity Gestated? Exchanges Between Cantor and Dedekind', will be delivered by José Ferreirós, Professor of Logic and Philosophy of Science at the University of Seville and a member of the IMUS Mathematics Institute. The event will take place at 7:00 PM at the Madrid institution's headquarters, located at Calle Pinar, 21-23.
This activity is part of the 'Mathematics at the Residence' cycle and the Science and Technology Week. The talk will address fundamental questions about the nature of infinity, such as its determination, measurement, and the existence of different sizes of infinities.
The epistolary correspondence between German mathematicians Georg Cantor and Richard Dedekind in the late 19th century will be explored, which was crucial for the birth of set theory, one of the pillars of modern mathematics. Although credit is often attributed solely to Cantor, the talk will highlight the contributions of both.
The speaker will trace this creative process, showing how mathematical ideas emerge through doubts, critical revisions, and personal relationships, while also opening questions about authorship and scientific ethics, and underscoring the importance of community work in mathematics.
“"Can infinity be determined? How could it be measured? Are there infinities larger than others?"
José Ferreirós is a renowned expert in the history and philosophy of mathematics. In addition to his teaching role at the University of Seville, he has published works such as 'Labyrinth of Thought', 'Mathematical Knowledge and the Interplay of Practices', and popular science books like 'De la geometría a la topología' and 'La génesis de la geometría'. He has chaired the Association for the Philosophy of Mathematical Practices (APMP) and is a member of the international AIPS Academy.
