Figures of Thought: Mathematics and Mathematical Texts

by David Reed

Overview

Rarely has the history or philosophy of mathematics been written about by mathematicians, and the analysis of mathematical texts themselves has been an area almost entirely unexplored. Figures of Thought looks at ways in which mathematical works can be read as texts, examines their textual strategies and demonstrates that such readings provide a rich source of philosophical issues regarding mathematics: issues which traditional approaches to the history and philosophy of mathematics have neglected.
David Reed, a professional mathematician himself, offers the first sustained and critical attempt to find a consistent argument or narrative thread in mathematical texts. In doing so he develops new and fascinating interpretations of mathematicians' work throughout history, from an in-depth analysis of Euclid's Elements, to the mathematics of Descartes and right up to the work of contemporary mathematicians such as Grothendeick. He also traces the implications of this approach to the understanding of the history and development of mathematics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781134892532
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/02/2003
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	366 KB

About the Author

Reed, David

Table of Contents

Preface Introduction Part I: The Subject Matter of Geometry in Euclid, Descartes and Hilbert 1. The Opening of The Elements 2. Propositions and Proofs - Theorems and Problems Part II 1. The Contexts of Measurement 2. Number Theory in the 19th Century Appendix Part III Introduction 1. Types of Wholes 2. Generality in Contemporary Mathematics Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

'A remarkably wide-ranging discussion of the language, aims, and methods of geometry from Greek antiquity, via Descartes, up to Weil, Grothendeick, and beyond.' - David Fowler, University of Warwick

From the Publisher