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Connecting Humans to Equations

A Reinterpretation of the Philosophy of Mathematics

Ole Skovsmose author Ole Ravn author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Published:25th Feb '19

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Connecting Humans to Equations cover

Connecting Humans to Equations: A Reinterpretation of the Philosophy of Mathematics presents some of the most important positions in the philosophy of mathematics, while adding new dimensions to this philosophy. Mathematics is an integral part of human and social life, meaning that a philosophy of mathematics must include several dimensions. This book describes these dimensions by the following four questions that structure the content of the book: Where is mathematics? How certain is mathematics? How social is mathematics? How good is mathematics?

 These four questions refer to the ontological, epistemological, social, and ethical dimension of a philosophy of mathematics. While the ontological and epistemological dimensions have been explored in all classic studies in the philosophy of mathematics, the exploration of the book is unique in its social and ethical dimensions. It argues that the foundation of mathematics is deeply connected to human and social actions and that mathematics includes not just descriptive but also performative features. This human-centered and accessible interpretation of mathematics is relevant for students in mathematics, mathematics education, and any technical discipline and for anybody working with mathematics.


“Connecting Humans to Equations: A Reinterpretation of the Philosophy of Mathematics by Ole Ravn and Ole Skovsmose (2019) intends to give a new interpretation of the philosophy of mathematics, by emphasising the human (and thus social and ethical) dimensions of mathematics. ... The book is recommended to the reader (the math educator, the math teacher) who wants to become familiar with a critical overview of philosophy of mathematics.” (Karen François, Philosophia Mathematica, Vol. 32 (1), February, 2024)

ISBN: 9783030013363

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

188 pages

1st ed. 2019