The incredible journey that philosopher Bertrand Russell went on in search of meaning is recounted in this graphic novel. Russell’s arduous pursuit of absolute truth brings him into contact with illustrious philosophers such as Gottlob Frege, David Hilbert, and Kurt Godel. He discovers that the great Ludwig Wittgenstein is a passionate student who may help him along the way. However, the prospect of achieving his most audacious objective, which is to lay unshakeable logical foundations for mathematics, continues to loom before him. Russell perseveres in the arduous quest that threatens to claim his profession and personal happiness, ultimately pushing him to the verge of insanity as he moves closer and closer to the edge of sanity. Through love and hate, peace and war.
This narrative is both a historical tale and an approachable explanation of some of the most important ideas in modern mathematics and philosophy. Both of these aspects are intertwined throughout the narrative. The exploration of these ideas is turned into a story that is both extremely engaging and emotionally gratifying because of the book’s use of well-developed characters and artwork that is both expressive and atmospheric.
The book is insightful and cleverly layered, and it sheds light on Russell’s inner troubles while also placing them in the perspective of the ageless issues he spent his life attempting to solve. The central tension in the plot of Logicomix is between a perfect logic on the one hand and the unchanging, defective fabric of reality on the other.
