Everything and More: A Compact History of Infinity"A gripping guide to the modern taming of the infinite." —New York Times Part history, part philosophy, part love letter to the study of mathematics, Everything and More is an illuminating tour of infinity. With his infectious curiosity and trademark verbal pyrotechnics, David Foster Wallace takes us from Aristotle to Newton, Leibniz, Karl Weierstrass, and finally Georg Cantor and his set theory. Through it all, Wallace proves to be an ideal guide—funny, wry, and unfailingly enthusiastic. Featuring an introduction by Neal Stephenson, this edition is a perfect introduction to the beauty of mathematics and the undeniable strangeness of the infinite. |
Contents
Section 1 | 1 |
Section 2 | 37 |
Section 3 | 38 |
Section 4 | 46 |
Section 5 | 53 |
Section 6 | 54 |
Section 7 | 69 |
Section 8 | 76 |
Section 20 | 169 |
Section 21 | 173 |
Section 22 | 183 |
Section 23 | 186 |
Section 24 | 191 |
Section 25 | 194 |
Section 26 | 211 |
Section 27 | 212 |
Section 9 | 79 |
Section 10 | 81 |
Section 11 | 85 |
Section 12 | 95 |
Section 13 | 97 |
Section 14 | 105 |
Section 15 | 113 |
Section 16 | 131 |
Section 17 | 139 |
Section 18 | 151 |
Section 19 | 155 |
Section 28 | 239 |
Section 29 | 249 |
Section 30 | 251 |
Section 31 | 253 |
Section 32 | 261 |
Section 33 | 272 |
Section 34 | 295 |
Section 35 | 306 |
Section 36 | 307 |
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Common terms and phrases
abstract actually algebraic analysis Aristotle Aristotle’s arithmetic Axiom Axiom of Choice basic bers Bolzano calc calculus Cantor cardinal number college math concept continuous continuous function Continuum Continuum Hypothesis convergent correspondence curve decimal Dedekind defined definition denumerable derived set Dichotomy differential difficulties entities equations Eudoxus example exist figures find finite finite number first five formal Fourier Series function Galileo geometric Georg Cantor going Greek idea important infi infinite number infinite sequence infinite sets infinitesimals integers interval involves irrational numbers justification kind Kline Kronecker Leibniz logical MACT math’s mathematical mathematicians means metaphysical nite Number Line order-types ordinal paradoxes problems proof prove quantities rational numbers Real Line real numbers recall reductio rigorous Russell’s schnitt sense set theory significant sort specific stuff subsets symbol technical Theorem there’s thing tion transfinite numbers trig series true we’re Weierstrass Weierstrassian what’s whole Zeno Zeno’s