What Is Mathematics Really ? - Hardcover

Hersh, Reuben

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195113683 ISBN 13: 9780195113686

Verlag: Oxford University Press, 1997

Inhaltsangabe

Book by Hersh Reuben

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"Ruben Hersh puts the people into the philosophy and the philosophy into the mathematics: he will take your mind to places it has never dreamed of."--Ian Stewart, The Mathematical Institute, University of Coventry"Reuben Hersh's insider's view of the big questions about the nature of mathematics is witty, provocative, insightful, and always accessible. It should revitalize discussions among mathematicians, philosophers, and historians--and all those people who have wondered what mathematics is all about."--Philip Kitcher"Reuben Hersh's What Is Mathematics, Really? is the most thorough, comprehensive survey of all that has been written on the philosophy of mathematics. It will remain the standard reference in the philosophy of mathematics, indispensable to both mathematicians and philosophers. The author combines the experience of a research mathematician with a keen sense of philosophical relevance to give brief, incisive sketches that strikingly summarize every philosopher's contribution (of the lack of it). Reuben Hersh's volume should be required reading of all undergraduate mathematics majors, as well as of any cultivated person with or without a mathematical background."--Gian-Carlo Rota, Department of Mathematics, MIT "Ruben Hersh puts the people into the philosophy and the philosophy into the mathematics: he will take your mind to places it has never dreamed of."--Ian Stewart, The Mathematical Institute, University of Coventry "Reuben Hersh's insider's view of the big questions about the nature of mathematics is witty, provocative, insightful, and always accessible. It should revitalize discussions among mathematicians, philosophers, and historians--and all those people who have wondered what mathematics is all about."--Philip Kitcher "Reuben Hersh's What Is Mathematics, Really? is the most thorough, comprehensive survey of all that has been written on the philosophy of mathematics. It will remain the standard reference in the philosophy of mathematics, indispensable to both mathematicians and philosophers. The author combines the experience of a research mathematician with a keen sense of philosophical relevance to give brief, incisive sketches that strikingly summarize every philosopher's contribution (of the lack of it). Reuben Hersh's volume should be required reading of all undergraduate mathematics majors, as well as of any cultivated person with or without a mathematical background."--Gian-Carlo Rota, Department of Mathematics, MIT "Ruben Hersh puts the people into the philosophy and the philosophy into the mathematics: he will take your mind to places it has never dreamed of."--Ian Stewart, The Mathematical Institute, University of Coventry "Reuben Hersh's insider's view of the big questions about the nature of mathematics is witty, provocative, insightful, and always accessible. It should revitalize discussions among mathematicians, philosophers, and historians--and all those people who have wondered what mathematics is all about."--Philip Kitcher "Reuben Hersh's What Is Mathematics, Really? is the most thorough, comprehensive survey of all that has been written on the philosophy of mathematics. It will remain the standard reference in the philosophy of mathematics, indispensable to both mathematicians and philosophers. The author combines the experience of a research mathematician with a keen sense of philosophical relevance to give brief, incisive sketches that strikingly summarize every philosopher's contribution (of the lack of it). Reuben Hersh's volume should be required reading of all undergraduate mathematics majors, as well as of any cultivated person with or without a mathematical background."--Gian-Carlo Rota, Department of Mathematics, MIT "Ruben Hersh puts the people into the philosophy and the philosophy into the mathematics: he will take your mind to places it has never dreamed of."--Ian Stewart, The Mathematical Institute, University of Coventry"Reuben Hersh's insider's view of the big questions about the nature of mathematics is witty, provocative, insightful, and always accessible. It should revitalize discussions among mathematicians, philosophers, and historians--and all those people who have wondered what mathematics is allabout."--Philip Kitcher"Reuben Hersh's What Is Mathematics, Really? is the most thorough, comprehensive survey of all that has been written on the philosophy of mathematics. It will remain the standard reference in the philosophy of mathematics, indispensable to both mathematicians and philosophers. The author combinesthe experience of a research mathematician with a keen sense of philosophical relevance to give brief, incisive sketches that strikingly summarize every philosopher's contribution (of the lack of it). Reuben Hersh's volume should be required reading of all undergraduate mathematics majors, as wellas of any cultivated person with or without a mathematical background."--Gian-Carlo Rota, Department of Mathematics, MIT

Reseña del editor:

Virtually all philosophers treat mathematics as isolated, timeless, ahistorical, inhuman. In What Is Mathematics, Really? renowned mathematician Reuben Hersh argues the contrary. In a subversive attack on traditional philosophies of mathematics, most notably Platonism and formalism, he shows that mathematics must be understood as a human activity, a social phenomenon, part of human culture, historically evolved, and intelligible only in a social context. Mathematical objects are created by humans, not arbitrarily, but from activity with existing mathematical objects, and from the needs of science and daily life. Hersh pulls the screen back to reveal mathematics as seen by professionals, debunking many mathematical myths, and demonstrating how the "humanist" idea of the nature of mathematics more closely resembles how mathematicians actually work. The humanist standpoint helps him to resolve ancient controversies about proof, certainty, and invention versus discovery. The second half of the book provides a fascinating history of the "mainstream" of philosophy - ranging from Pythagoras, Plato, Descartes, Spinoza, and Kant, to Bertrand Russell, Hilbert, Carnap, and Quine. Then come the mavericks who saw mathematics as a human artifact - Aristotle, Locke, Hume, Mill, Peirce, Dewey, Wittgenstein. In his epilogue, Hersh reveals that this is no mere armchair debate, of little consequence to the outside world. Platonism and elitism fit together naturally. Humanism, on the other hand, links mathematics with people, with society, and with history. It fits with liberal anti-elitism and its historical striving for universal literacy, universal higher education, and universal access to knowledge andculture. Thus Hersh's argument has educational and political consequences.

Über diese Auflage

• Verlag: Oxford University Press
• Erscheinungsdatum: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0195113683
• ISBN 13: 9780195113686
• Einband: Tapa dura
• Anzahl der Seiten: 368