Geometrical landscapes : the voyages of discovery and the transformation of mathematical practice / Amir R. Alexander.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Alexander, Amir.

Series:

Writing science

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mathematics--History--16th century.

Mathematics.

Mathematics--History--17th century.

Discoveries in geography.

History.

Physical Description:

xv, 293 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Stanford, Calif. : Stanford University Press, [2002]

Summary:

This challenging book argues that a new way of speaking of mathematics and describing it emerged at the end of the 16th century. Leading mathematicians began referring to their field in terms drawn from the exploration accounts of Columbus and Magellan. Many of those who promoted the vision of mathematics as heroic exploration also played central roles in developing the most important mathematical innovation of the period- the infinitesimal methods, which the author shows was no coincidence.

Contents:

1. Prologue: The Origins of the Exploration Narrative 6

2. Breaking Alien Coastlines 16

3. Mathematical Empires 69

4. Seeing the Truth: Hariot and the Structure of Matter 98

5. "The Club of Hercules": Hariot's Mathematical Atomism 130

6. Navigating Mathematical Oceans 171

Appendix A The Mathematical Narrative 205

Appendix B Hariot's Method of Calculating Meridional Parts 214.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 269-282) and indexes.

ISBN:

0804732604

OCLC:

50064933