Like the jump from mathematics to Western Philosophy is abit weird, but I would guess that he was probably a missiles guy (calculating trajectories, timing tables, etc.) in the military but he might just have a knack for languages (as many people who are good at mathematics often are) so they set him up to put him through the doctorate in Western Philosophy, specifically for this kind of job.

Or he is just had an interest in it and this is where he ended up with it. Idk really. Point is, you don't need to get a master's in the same thing you got your bachelor's in, but it is extremely difficult to be accepted into a master's program that wasn't your bachelor's, and usually nigh on impossible to get accepted into a doctorate program for something you don't have a bachelor's or master's in, so this person is probably extremely smart and well read.

[–] JustSo@hexbear.net 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

jump from mathematics to Western Philosophy is abit weird

Do you think so?

I'm friends with a well regarded mathematician who is deeply into philosophy. There's huge overlap with set theory and logic etc. I found studying philosophy to synergise with my STEM degree really well. It's a shame more people don't study it because you can be a complete humanities denying hypernerd and still find a niche if you enjoy thinking and argumentation (curtis yarvin I'm looking past you at peter singer etc)

Could easily be a different explained by differences in historically dominant schools of philosophical focus in different regions, or any other number of things, but I would think a lot of theoretical mathematicians are effectively operating in a space right adjacent to or overlapping philosophy and metaphysics.

[–] TreadOnMe@hexbear.net 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I can absolutely agree with that if you are staying well away from continental philosophy. Otherwise, your strict logical theory really stops at Kant (unless you consider Marx or Engles philosophers, which, perhaps). But really, fuck Bertrand Russel and all his bullshit.

I sometimes forget that logic and set theory is technically part of the philosophical canon visavis the Greeks, even though it was literally the part of my philosophy minor I did the best in. But yes, I suppose that is a natural path.

Idk though, I always had a teacher who would watch the PhD students try to use a new lemma they created on a philosophical problem, just sign, roll his eyes, and go "This is logic, not philosophy."