Intuitionism Resocialized

This book reimagines the history of mathematics by shifting the spotlight from abstract theories to the individuals and communities that shape them. At its center lies Brouwer’s intuitionism, a daring attempt in the early twentieth century to revolutionize the foundations of mathematics. Though intuitionism ultimately did not replace classical mathematics, dismissing it as a “failed revolution” misses the deeper story. Its impact endured, not only in the ways mathematicians and philosophers continued to wrestle with Brouwer’s ideas, but also in the insights it offers into how knowledge evolves through both personal conviction and collective judgment.

​

Intuitionism Resocialized shows that failure in science is not the end of the story but part of the process by which disciplines develop. Even unsuccessful movements can leave powerful legacies, shaping philosophical discourse, inspiring new frameworks, and revealing the hidden structures of community dynamics in scientific practice. By examining Brouwer’s relationships with allies such as Hermann Weyl and Arend Heyting, as well as adversaries like David Hilbert, the book illuminates how personal struggles, professional rivalries, and communal norms intertwined to determine what mathematics would become.

​

Drawing together perspectives from history, philosophy, and sociology of science, the book argues that mathematics is never simply a body of timeless truths. It is also a deeply human enterprise, sustained by groups who decide, sometimes contentiously, what counts as legitimate knowledge. In this sense, Brouwer’s intuitionism provides more than a story of what might have been; it offers a window into the powerful interplay between individual relationships, communal resistance, and the broader evolution of scientific thought.