Most philosophers of mathematics treat it as isolated, timeless,
ahistorical, inhuman. Reuben Hersh argues the contrary, 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. 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. At the heart of his book is a fascinating historical
account of the mainstream of philosophy--ranging from Pythagoras,
Descartes, and Spinoza, to Bertrand Russell, David Hilbert, and
Rudolph Carnap--followed by the mavericks who saw mathematics as a
human artifact, including Aristotle, Locke, Hume, Mill, and
Lakatos._What is Mathematics, Really?_ reflects an insider's view of
mathematical life, and will be hotly debated by anyone with an
interest in mathematics or the philosophy of science.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780199839391
Publisert
2020
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxford University Press
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter