Remembering Igor R. Shafarevich: The Path to Freedom
Alexey Remizov
TL;DR
The paper collects quotations by I. R. Shafarevich to examine the perceived crisis in science and mathematics and their role in society, particularly in Russia. It presents a curated survey of his views on the inner roots of freedom, the mechanization of science, and the search for a higher purpose beyond utilitarian progress. The author juxtaposes Shafarevich's arguments about the Faustian drift in science with his historical and religious-inspired account of mathematics as a path toward a transcendent aim, using these quotations to illuminate challenges facing modern science. The work highlights the tension between scientific advancement and human meaning, arguing for a reinvigoration of aesthetic, ethical, and religious dimensions in cultural activity, with implications for policy, research culture, and national development.
Abstract
2023 year marks the hundredth birth anniversary of prominent Russian mathematician and thinker Igor Rostislavovich Shafarevich (1923-2017). The article presents a selection of quotations from various works of him, devoted to the future of mathematics and science in general, with minor comments and explanations.