Ebook: Lattice theory - its birth and life

Czech Republic. Praha.: Prometheus, 2001. — pp. 250-257 (DejinyMat_17-2001-1_31) English. (OCR-слой).[In: Eduard Fuchs (editor): Mathematics throughout the ages. Contributions from the summer school and seminars on the history of mathematics and from the 10th and 11th Novembertagung on the history and philosophy of mathematics, Holbaek, Denmark, October 28-31, 1999, and Brno, the CzechRepublic, November 2-5, 2000. (English). Praha: Prometheus, 2001. pp. 250-257 (DejinyMat_17-2001-1_31)].[Štěpánka Bilová. Department of Mathematics. Masaryk University. Czech Republic].In 1997 Gian-Carlo Rota [12] wrote the following words:
"Never in the history of mathematics has a mathematical theory been the object of such vociferous vituperations as lattice theory. Dedekind, Jónsson, Kurosh, Malcev, Ore, von Neumann, Tarski, and most prominently Garrett Birkhoff have contributed a new vision of mathematics, a vision that hasbeen cursed by a conjunction of misunderstanding, resentment, and raw prejudice".
What are the reasons for using such strong expressions when talking about a mathematical theory? What is so special about lattice theory to attract such conflicting opinions? It is natural that any mathematician finds beauty in the field they are interested in and advocate its methods and results. But has lattice theory been really living in a world of such contradicting views? In my contribution I would like to present a short survey of its development and compare it with some phenomena that often occur in the history of a mathematical theory in general.Contents.
Introduction.
Beginnings and developments of theories.
Lattices.
Lattice theory – first beginnings.
Lattice theory – second beginnings.
Lattice theory – development.
Conclusion.
References.