Anachronisms in the History of Mathematics
Anachronisms in the History of Mathematics
£125.00
GBPThe controversial matters surrounding the notion of anachronism are difficult ones: they have been broached by literary and art critics, by philosophers, as well as by historians of science. This book adopts a bottom-up approach to the many problems concerning anachronism in the history of mathematics. Some of the leading scholars in the field of history of mathematics reflect on the applicability of present-day mathematical language, concepts, standards, disciplinary boundaries, indeed notions of mathematics itself, to well-chosen historical case studies belonging to the mathematics of the past, in European and non-European cultures. A detailed introduction describes the key themes and binds the various chapters together. The interdisciplinary and transcultural approach adopted allows this volume to cover topics important for history of mathematics, history of the physical sciences, history of science, philosophy of mathematics, history of philosophy, methodology of history, non-European science, and the transmission of mathematical knowledge across cultures.
- Discusses mathematics in a wide range of different periods and cultures
- Demonstrates how differing historical reconstructions of the past depend upon assumptions that should be discussed and challenged
- Self-contained chapters are accessible to readers without previous knowledge of the history of mathematics
Reviews & endorsements
'… scholarly work … Highly recommended.' V. V. Raman, Choice Magazine
'excellent examples of the diversity of types of anachronisms that can be found in the history of mathematics … The wide variety of case studies that form the chapters is remarkable.' Nicolas Michel, Revue d'Histoire des Sciences
'The main contribution of the book lies in this rich meta-historical reflection. Apart from contributing to their specific historiographies, the essays of this book provide an important contribution to the methodology of the history of mathematics. As a consequence, the book has an appeal for any historian of mathematics, regardless of their period of specialisation.' Raffaele Danna, Nuncius
''Anachronisms in the History of Mathematics provides a rich series of contributions which will be of interest both to the specialist and to any scholar interested in the analysis of past mathematical sources. … Apart from contributing to their specific historiographies, the essays of this book provide an important contribution to the methodology of the history of mathematics. As a consequence, the book has an appeal for any historian of mathematics, regardless of their period of specialisation.' Raffaele Danna, Nuncius
'Mathematicians without historical training may find this a challenging read that is well worth the effort! Historians (and certainly historians of mathematics) will find this an interesting and thought-provoking book.' Katelynn Kochalski, Notices of the American Mathematical Society
Product details
July 2021Hardback
9781108834964
392 pages
236 × 159 × 29 mm
0.753kg
Available
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction: The Historical Interpretation of Mathematical Texts and the Problem of Anachronism Niccolò Guicciardini
- 2. From Reading Rules to Reading Algorithms: Textual Anachronisms in the History of Mathematics and their Effects on Interpretation Karine Chemla
- 3. Anachronism and Anachorism in the Study of Mathematics in India Kim Plofker
- 4. On the Need to Re-examine the Relationship between the Mathematical Sciences and Philosophy in Greek Antiquity Jacqueline Feke
- 5. Productive Anachronism: On Mathematical Reconstruction as a Historiographical Method Martina R. Schneider
- 6. Anachronism in the Renaissance Historiography of Mathematics Robert Goulding
- 7. Deceptive Familiarity: Differential Equations in Leibniz and the Leibnizian School (1689–1736) Niccolò Guicciardini
- 8. Euler and Analysis: Case Studies and Historiographical Perspectives Craig Fraser and Andrew Schroter
- 9. Measuring Past Geometers: A History of Non-Metric Projective Anachronism Jemma Lorenat
- 10. Anachronism: Bonola and Non-Euclidean Geometry Jeremy Gray
- 11. Anachronism and Incommensurability: Words, Concepts, Contexts, and Intentions Joseph W. Dauben
- Index.
