Mathematics - Its content, methods and meaning (Vol. 1, 2, 3)

An adequate presentation of any science cannot consist of detailed information alone, however
extensive. It must also provide a proper view of the essential nature of the science as a whole. The
purpose of the present chapter is to give a general picture of the essential nature of mathematics. For
this purpose there is no great need to introduce any of the details of recent mathematical theories,
since elementary mathematics and the history of the science already provide a sufficient foundation
for general conclusions.