Bernard Bolzano
- Born:
- October 5, 1781, Prague, Bohemia (present-day Czech Republic)
- Died:
- December 18, 1848, Prague, Bohemia (present-day Czech Republic)
- Nationality:
- Bohemian (Austrian Empire)
- Profession(s):
- Mathematician, Logician, Philosopher, Theologian
Early Life and Education
- Entered the Charles-Ferdinand University in Prague in 1796, studying philosophy and mathematics.
- Began studying theology in 1800, ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1804.
- Received his doctorate in mathematics in 1804.
Career and Major Achievements
- Appointed Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the Charles-Ferdinand University in 1805.
- Known for his pacifist and socialist views, which led to his dismissal from the university in 1819.
- Continued his scholarly work independently after being dismissed.
- Developed groundbreaking ideas in mathematical analysis, logic, and set theory, often anticipating later discoveries.
- Notably, his work on the intermediate value theorem predates the modern formulation.
Notable Works
- Der binomische Lehrsatz (1816)
- Rein analytischer Beweis des Lehrsatzes, dass zwischen je zwei Werthen, die ein entgegengesetztes Resultat gewähren, wenigstens eine reelle Wurzel der Gleichung liege (1817)
- Paradoxien des Unendlichen (posthumously published in 1851)
- Wissenschaftslehre (Theory of Science, posthumously published in 1929)
Legacy and Impact
Bernard Bolzano's work, largely unrecognized during his lifetime, is now considered foundational in modern mathematics and logic. His rigorous approach to mathematical analysis, particularly his contributions to set theory and the concept of a continuous function, paved the way for later mathematicians like Cauchy and Weierstrass. Today, anyone researching a 'liceo bernard bolzano biography' would likely find that he is remembered for his profound influence on mathematical thought and his courage in upholding his convictions.