Figures of Thought

Mathematics and Mathematical Texts

David Reed author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:25th Oct '13

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Figures of Thought cover

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.

'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

ISBN: 9780415865432

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 294g

200 pages