The Interplay of Mathematics and Philosophy: Turing and Wittgenstein at Cambridge

Turing and Wittgenstein: An entanglement of math and philosophy 🔗

In pre-War Cambridge, students had to ace an interview with Ludwig Wittgenstein to attend his lectures — Alan Turing passed that test.

The text describes the entanglement of mathematics and philosophy through the interactions between Alan Turing and Ludwig Wittgenstein at the University of Cambridge in 1939. Turing focused on axioms and logic, drawing on his conception of a purely hypothetical computer, while Wittgenstein delved into the philosophy of language and the colorful medley of mathematics. The encounters and exchanges between these two influential figures shed light on their contrasting perspectives and contributions to the fields of mathematics and philosophy.

The University of Cambridge offered two courses on the “Foundations of Mathematics” in 1939, one taught by Alan Turing and the other by Ludwig Wittgenstein.
Turing focused on axioms and logic, while Wittgenstein was more interested in the philosophy of language and the "colorful medley" of mathematics.
Their interactions and exchanges provided insight into their differing perspectives on mathematics and philosophy.