Ideas from 'Mathematics and Philosophy: grand and little' by Alain Badiou [2004], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Theoretical Writings' by Badiou,Alain [Continuum 2006,0-8264-9079-4]].

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1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 5. Aims of Philosophy / e. Philosophy as reason

9808	Philosophy aims to reveal the grandeur of mathematics

			Full Idea: Philosophy's role consists in informing mathematics of its own speculative grandeur.
			From: Alain Badiou (Mathematics and Philosophy: grand and little [2004], p.11)
			A reaction: Revealing the grandeur of something sounds more like a rhetorical than a rational exercise. How would you reveal the grandeur of a sunset to someone?

6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 1. Mathematics

9812	In mathematics, if a problem can be formulated, it will eventually be solved

			Full Idea: Only in mathematics can one unequivocally maintain that if thought can formulate a problem, it can and will solve it, regardless of how long it takes.
			From: Alain Badiou (Mathematics and Philosophy: grand and little [2004], p.17)
			A reaction: I hope this includes proving the Continuum Hypothesis, and Goldbach's Conjecture. It doesn't seem quite true, but it shows why philosophers of a rationalist persuasion are drawn to mathematics.

6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 5. The Infinite / a. The Infinite

9813	Mathematics shows that thinking is not confined to the finite

			Full Idea: Mathematics teaches us that there is no reason whatsoever to confne thinking within the ambit of finitude.
			From: Alain Badiou (Mathematics and Philosophy: grand and little [2004], p.19)
			A reaction: This would perhaps make Cantor the greatest thinker who ever lived. It is an exhilarating idea, but we should ward the reader against romping of into unrestrained philosophical thought about infinities. You may be jumping without your Cantorian parachute.

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / a. Nature of Being

9809	Mathematics inscribes being as such

			Full Idea: Mathematics inscribes being as such.
			From: Alain Badiou (Mathematics and Philosophy: grand and little [2004], p.12)
			A reaction: I don't pretend to understand that, but there is something about the purity and certainty of mathematics that makes us feel we are grappling with the core of existence. Perhaps. The same might be said of stubbing your toe on a bedpost.

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 6. Criterion for Existence

9811	It is of the essence of being to appear

			Full Idea: It is of the essence of being to appear.
			From: Alain Badiou (Mathematics and Philosophy: grand and little [2004], p.16)
			A reaction: Nice slogan. In my humble opinion 'continental' philosophy is well worth reading because, despite the fluffy rhetoric and the shameless egotism and the desire to shock the bourgeoisie, they occasionally make wonderfully thought-provoking remarks.

21. Aesthetics / B. Nature of Art / 8. The Arts / b. Literature

9814	All great poetry is engaged in rivalry with mathematics

			Full Idea: Like every great poet, Mallarmé was engaged in a tacit rivalry with mathematics.
			From: Alain Badiou (Mathematics and Philosophy: grand and little [2004], p.20)
			A reaction: I love these French pronouncements! Would Mallarmé have agreed? If poetry and mathematics are the poles, where is philosophy to be found?