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Perspectives on the History of Mathematical Logic pp 54–70Cite as

Oswald Veblen and the Origins of Mathematical Logic at Princeton

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Abstract

The remarkable transformation from Aristotelean to mathematical logic in the period 1880–1930 was largely a European affair. The important centers of change were all located in Europe.1 Few Americans pursued research in logic, and those who did seldom contributed to mainstream developments.2 By the end of the 1930s, however, the United States had developed an important, indigenous research program in mathematical logic.3 For the first time American faculties were training their own students, making their own research contributions, and publishing their own research journals at levels competitive with the best Europe had to offer.

I appreciate the critical reading of early drafts of this paper by Thomas Drucker, Sheldon Hochheiser, Gregory Moore, and Albert Tucker; information provided by Irving Anellis, John Corcoran, and Dale Johnson; and research assistance from Robbin Clamons and Marek Rostocki.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for the History of Electrical Engineering, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08903, USA

    William Aspray

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  1. William Aspray
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  1. Carlisle, PA, 17013, USA

    Thomas Drucker

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Aspray, W. (2008). Oswald Veblen and the Origins of Mathematical Logic at Princeton. In: Drucker, T. (eds) Perspectives on the History of Mathematical Logic. Birkhäuser Boston. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-8176-4769-8_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-8176-4769-8_5

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Boston

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-8176-4768-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-8176-4769-8

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