Sofya Yanovskaya
Encyclopedia
Sofya Aleksandrovna Yanovskaya (also Janovskaja; ; 31 January 1896 – 24 October 1966) was a mathematician
and historian
, specializing in the history of mathematics
, mathematical logic
, and philosophy of mathematics
. She is best known for her efforts of restoring mathematical logic research in the Soviet Union
and publishing and editing mathematical works of Karl Marx
.
, a town near Brest
, to a Jewish family of accountant Alexander Neimark. From 1914 to 1918 she studied in a woman's college in Odessa
, when she became a communist. She worked as a party official until 1924, when she started teaching at the Institute of Red Professoriate
. With exception of the war years (1941–1943), she worked at Moscow State University
until retirement.
She received her doctoral degree in 1935.
Her work on Karl Marx
's mathematical manuscripts began in 1930s and may have had some influence on the study of non-standard analysis
in China
. In the academia she is most remembered now for her work on history and philosophy of mathematics, as well as for her influence on young generation of researchers. She persuaded Ludwig Wittgenstein
when he was visiting Soviet Union
in 1935 to give up his idea to relocate to the Soviet Union
.
For her work, Yanovskaya received the Order of Lenin
and other medals.
She died from diabetes
in Moscow
.
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, specializing in the history of mathematics
History of mathematics
The area of study known as the history of mathematics is primarily an investigation into the origin of discoveries in mathematics and, to a lesser extent, an investigation into the mathematical methods and notation of the past....
, mathematical logic
Mathematical logic
Mathematical logic is a subfield of mathematics with close connections to foundations of mathematics, theoretical computer science and philosophical logic. The field includes both the mathematical study of logic and the applications of formal logic to other areas of mathematics...
, and philosophy of mathematics
Philosophy of mathematics
The philosophy of mathematics is the branch of philosophy that studies the philosophical assumptions, foundations, and implications of mathematics. The aim of the philosophy of mathematics is to provide an account of the nature and methodology of mathematics and to understand the place of...
. She is best known for her efforts of restoring mathematical logic research in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and publishing and editing mathematical works of Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
.
Biography
Yanovskaya was born in PruzhanyPruzhany
Pruzhany is a town in Brest Voblast, Belarus. Pruzhany is the center of a district in Brest Region, Belarus. Its population is about 20.000 people. The town is located at the confluence of the Mukha River and the Vets Canal, which give the start to Mukhavets River.-History:Pruzhany has been known...
, a town near Brest
Brest, Belarus
Brest , formerly also Brest-on-the-Bug and Brest-Litovsk , is a city in Belarus at the border with Poland opposite the city of Terespol, where the Bug River and Mukhavets rivers meet...
, to a Jewish family of accountant Alexander Neimark. From 1914 to 1918 she studied in a woman's college in Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
, when she became a communist. She worked as a party official until 1924, when she started teaching at the Institute of Red Professoriate
Institute of State and Law
The Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences is the largest scientific legal center in the Russian Federation. The ISL is part of the Philosophical, Sociological, Psychological, and Law Department of RAS...
. With exception of the war years (1941–1943), she worked at Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
until retirement.
She received her doctoral degree in 1935.
Her work on Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
's mathematical manuscripts began in 1930s and may have had some influence on the study of non-standard analysis
Non-standard analysis
Non-standard analysis is a branch of mathematics that formulates analysis using a rigorous notion of an infinitesimal number.Non-standard analysis was introduced in the early 1960s by the mathematician Abraham Robinson. He wrote:...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. In the academia she is most remembered now for her work on history and philosophy of mathematics, as well as for her influence on young generation of researchers. She persuaded Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein was an Austrian philosopher who worked primarily in logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language. He was professor in philosophy at the University of Cambridge from 1939 until 1947...
when he was visiting Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1935 to give up his idea to relocate to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
For her work, Yanovskaya received the Order of Lenin
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
and other medals.
She died from diabetes
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
External links
- "Sof'ya Aleksandrovna Janovskaja", Biographies of Women Mathematicians, Agnes Scott CollegeAgnes Scott CollegeAgnes Scott College is a private undergraduate college in the United States. Agnes Scott's campus lies in downtown Decatur, Georgia, nestled inside the perimeter of the bustling metro-Atlanta area....
- Remembrances and more remembrances of S.A. Yanovskaya, by Boris A. Kushner (in Russian).
- a review of Yanovskaya's Methodological problems in science monograph – an article by B.V. Biryukov and O.A. Borisova (in Russian).
- Restoration: S. A. Yanovskaya's path in logic – and article by Valentin A. BazhanovValentin A. BazhanovValentin A. Bazhanov is a professor, chairperson of Philosophy Department at Ulyanovsk State University, Russia....
, History and Philosophy of Logic, Volume 22, Number 3, 2001, 129-133. - 1965 Moscow Interview with Sofya Yanovskaya, Eugene DynkinEugene DynkinEugene Borisovich Dynkin is a Soviet and American mathematician. He has made contributions to the fields of probability and algebra, especially semisimple Lie groups, Lie algebras, and Markov processes...
Collection of Mathematics Interviews, Cornell University LibraryCornell University LibraryThe Cornell University Library is the library system of Cornell University. In 2010 it held 8 million printed volumes in open stacks, 8.5 million microfilms and microfiches, more than of manuscripts, and close to 500,000 other materials, including motion pictures, DVDs, sound recordings, and...
(in Russian).