The correspondence with Michael Josef Fesl 1815--1827. Edited and with an introduction by Jan Berg (Q2880307)

Book II, volume 2 of Bernard Bolzano's collected works contains his exchange of letters with Michael Josef Fesl from 1815 until 1827. Bernard Bolzano (1781--1848) was not only an outstanding mathematician and one of the greatest logicians. He was a Catholic priest, a professor of the doctrine of religion at the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Prague. Bolzano's progressive theological and political ideas caused many problems with his supervisors and the clerics. Hence he was dismissed from the university in 1819, exiled to the countryside, and forbidden to publish in mainstream journals.NEWLINENEWLINEMichael Josef Fesl (1788--1863) was a pupil and close friend of Bolzano, admirer of his ideas. When he founded a group ``Christenbund'' (alliance of christians) he was sent to prison because of high treason. Bolzano and Fesl wrote letters at great length in this time, discussing their situation and questions regarding faith and eternity. There is no mathematics in the letters. But they show the unfree political life in Bohemia during the 18th century, friendship in this time and exchange of ideas. The letters seem of high interest for historians and theologians.