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Winner of the 1983 National Book Award! ...a perfectly marvelous book about the Queen of Sciences, from which one will get a real feeling for what mathematicians do and who they are. The exposition is clear and full of wit and humor... - The New Yorker (1983 National Book Award edition) Mathematics has been a human activity for thousands of years. Yet only a few people from the vast population of users are professional mathematicians, who create, teach, foster, and apply it in a variety of situations. The authors of this book believe that it should be possible for these professional mathematicians to explain to non-professionals what they do, what they say they are doing, and why the world should support them at it. They also believe that mathematics should be taught to non-mathematics majors in such a way as to instill an appreciation of the power and beauty of mathematics. Many people from around the world have told the authors that they have done precisely that with the first edition and they have encouraged publication of this revised edition complete with exercises for helping students to demonstrate their understanding. This edition of the book should find a new generation of general readers and students who would like to know what mathematics is all about. It will prove invaluable as a course text for a general mathematics appreciation course, one in which the student can combine an appreciation for the esthetics with some satisfying and revealing applications. The text is ideal for 1) a GE course for Liberal Arts students 2) a Capstone course for perspective teachers 3) a writing course for mathematics teachers. A wealth of customizable online course materials for the book can be obtained from Elena Anne Marchisotto ([email protected]) upon request.
The book "The Mathematical Experience" by Philip J. Davis, Reuben Hersh, and Elena Anne Marchisotto is a significant contribution to the philosophy of mathematics. The book challenges the prevailing view that mathematics is a purely formal and objective discipline. Instead, the authors argue that mathematics is a human activity that is shaped by social, cultural, and historical factors. It contends that the experience of mathematics is complex and varied, encompassing not only logical reasoning but also intuition, creativity, and emotion.
Key innovations of the book include:
1. A humanistic perspective on mathematics: This perspective emphasizes the role of human beings in the creation and use of mathematics. It rejects the idea that mathematics is simply a set of abstract truths that exist independently of human experience.
A focus on the mathematical experience: The book explores the different ways in which people experience mathematics, from the excitement of discovery to the frustration of failure. It also examines the social and cultural contexts in which mathematics is practiced.
An interdisciplinary approach: It draws on insights from philosophy, history, sociology, and psychology to understand the nature of mathematics.
Prior ingredients that laid the groundwork for this book:
Philosophical debates about the nature of mathematics: The book builds on earlier debates about the foundations of mathematics, such as the debate between Platonism and formalism.
Historical and sociological studies of mathematics: The book draws on historical and sociological studies of mathematics to show how mathematics has been shaped by social and cultural forces.
Cognitive science research on mathematical thinking: The book integrates insights from cognitive science research on mathematical thinking to understand the psychological processes involved in doing mathematics.
| Action | Title | Date | Authors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 1901-06-01 | G. W. Myers | |
| Mathematics | 1901-04-01 | G. W. Myers | |
| Mathematics | 1901-01-01 | G. W. Myers | |
| Mathematics | 1901-05-01 | G. W. Myers | |
| The Mathematics | 2007-01-01 | Javier Guachalla H | |
| The Mathematics | 2007-05-01 | Javier Guachalla H | |
| Mathematics | 2005-10-14 | ||
| The Mathematician | 2019-08-08 | John von Neumann | |
| Mathematics | 2020-08-04 | Vincent Gérard | |
| Mathematica | 2024-05-13 | David Bessis | |
| Mathematics Emerging | 2008-09-04 | Jacqueline Stedall | |
| Mathematics | 2002-11-28 | W. T. Gowers | |
| Algebra | 1995-01-01 | Elkedagmar Heinrich Hans-Dieter Janetzko | |
| Mathematics | 1993-07-23 | ||
| Mathematics | 1937-03-01 | H. T. H. P. | |
| Algebra | 2013-01-01 | Tilo Wendler Ulrike Tippe | |
| Mathematics | 1891-02-28 | E. Cobham Brewer | |
| The Mathematical Association | 1938-02-01 | ||
| Mathematical Education and Research | 1908-02-01 | ||
| Preface | 2011-05-13 | Dick Jardine Amy Shell‐Gellasch |
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