The meaing of mathematics in Against the Day.....

[Carvill, John]

<< First off, Joseph's right-maths are a big theme all the way through  
"Against the Day,".. >>

Of course, and I don't think Ray is disputing that. I think Ray is a mathematician, or at least has some specialist knowledge in that field, and is making a distinction between (a) mention (and even themes) of math in ATD, and (b) specific discussion of "the foundational crisis in mathematics". So far as I can see, he is making this distinction in order to stress the fact that he has this specialist mathematical knowledge. I may be wrong, but that's how it reads: you poor schmoos think Pynchon is discussing math in ATD - that ain't no math!