Wiskunde en wederopbouw. Deskundigen en hun prometheïsche huiver

Abstract

Experts and their Promethean shudders. Mathematicians in postwar reconstruction Societal innovation and cultural criticism thrived side by side after World War II and the Dutch welfare state was built on their combination. While political breakthrough failed in national politics, breakthroughs were attained in several sectors of society producing a variety of novel professionals and experts - how these different types of breakthrough compare, and even show kinship, is analyzed in some depth. The rise of the expert is disclosed here to be the quintessence of the welfare state.The new type of expert is informed by 'scientific method' and this is where mathematical thought comes in its styles of mathematical modelling. The story is related of Dutch mathematicians who in their growing social awareness from the 1930's onwards developed the practice of mathematical modelling and were instrumental in building up institutes of organized research in postwar years. The critics of science and of technological culture in those years drew on the same social awareness. In fact the very same scientists created organized science and acted as critical opinion leaders. Creating an even more modern society gave them shivers: Promethean shudders. Stronger than through their straightforward innovations the welfare state developed its specific character by the measures and institutions these concerned scientists proposed as a compensation to what was perceived as an overly specialised and reductionist society. In turn, these compensations, in their multitude of disciplines and regulations, turned out to be just as rational and mathematical.