Perspective and the Infinite in the Early Modern Age

Abstract

The thematic section of this issue consists of two parts: translations of two texts by Pascal on mathematics and four essays on different interpretations of the infinite in the Early Modern Age. The translations and the essays have emerged from the OTKA research “Perspective and Epistemology in the Early Modern Age,” linked to the research activity of the “The Philosophy of the Early Modern Age” workshop (KUFIM).

The essays in the second part are extended versions of the papers of the conference organized by KUFIM at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) Budapest on May 11, 2011. I would like to thank Gábor Nagy, associate professor of mathematics at the Bolyai Institute of the University of Szeged, for his generous help with the translations. The translations have used the texts and notes of Jean Mesnard’s critical edition of Pascal (1970). The thematic issue has been supported by two OTKA projects: K 81165 and K 67798.