MATH433-12S1 (C) Semester One 2012
Mathematics in Perspective

Description

What is mathematics? Where did mathematics come from and was it discovered or invented?  What are some of the key moments in the history of mathematics? What kinds of mathematical results are considered important, and why? How does being human affect the mathematics we do? What is the link between the abstract mathematical world and the physical world we experience? What is the connection between literacy and mathematics?

Get insight into the questions, challenges, and crises that mathematicians have faced throughout history and the ways in which they tackled and resolved them.  Reflect upon the features and foundations of contemporary mathematics and speculate on future initiatives.

This course is about the history, philosophy, people and major results of mathematics over the centuries. The course should be accessible not only to those with a 200 level mathematics background, but also to intellectually mature students in philosophy and related subjects. In particular, it is strongly recommended for anyone who intends teaching mathematics at any level from primary school onwards.

Learning Outcomes

Students who have succeeded in this course will:

• be able to access information about the history and philosophy of mathematics from a variety of sources, and to critically evaluate that information
• know about some major developments in the history and philosophy of mathematics
• understand these developments in terms of the historical context in which they occurred and in terms of their relationship to modern mathematics
• be able to communicate with peers and with lay people about developments and themes in the history and philosophy of mathematics

Pre-requisites

For further information see Mathematics and Statistics.