What is Principia Mathematica?

Principia Mathematica is a three-volume book that was written by Alfred North Whitehead and Bertrand Russell in the years 1910-1913. Its purpose was to place mathematics on a firm logical foundation and became known as one of the most famous books written in the 20th century.

This book by Whitehead and Russell should not be confused with another even more famous book with the same title written much earlier by Sir Isaac Newton. (Actually, the full title of Newton's book is Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, but is usually referred to as Principia Mathematica.) Both books, that by Newton and that by Whitehead and Russell, have Latin titles, but the one by Newton is written in Latin, whereas the one by Whitehead and Russell is in English.

One goal of Principia Mathematica by Whitehead and Russell was to present mathematics in terms of Symbolic Logic, with the intent that this could be used to prove that mathematics, as a logical system, is both consistent and complete. What actually happened was just the opposite!

In 1931, a young mathematician Kurt Gödel, using the "tools" he fould in Principia Mathematica, proved that mathematics is not complete!

So, Principia Mathematica did not serve the purpose for which it was written, but it did serve another purpose--just the exact opposite purpose--and it served it very well! For that reason, it is still regarded as one of the greatest books written in the 20th century.

Although written in English, Principia Mathematica has pages that are just filled with mathematical and logical symbols. If you Google Principia Mathematica, you can find some online bookstores that sell this book. A very old used book can be bought for over $140,000.00, but you can also get newer paperback versions of the same book much, much cheaper. Some online bookstores may even let you take a peek at some of the pages.