Mathematical commentaries in the ancient world a global perspective edited by Karine Chemla, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, Glenn W. Most, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa (retired)

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Chemla, Karine, editor.

Most, Glenn W., editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mathematics--Philosophy.

Mathematics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, United Kingdom New York, NY Cambridge University Press 2022

Summary:

"Doubtless, when many modern readers hear the word "commentaries," they are likely to think in the first instance of exegetical texts composed about writings like Aristotle's or Homer's or the Bible. But in fact the genre of commentaries was not limited to philosophy or literature or theology. On the contrary, even in the mathematical and medical sciences, for example, writing a commentary on someone else's text was an activity that was also frequently performed by practitioners. This was not only because these scientific disciplines were tightly connected with other fields of scholarship, but also because writing in the genres of commentary was a practice shared in common by most forms of institutionalized intellectual pursuits. The geographic distribution of this genre of writing is another striking phenomenon, since commentaries have actually represented a worldwide phenomenon, or almost so. They are found among cuneiform writings, at least from the first millennium BCE. They are also encountered among Chinese sources, at least after the establishment of the Empire in the third century CE. They likewise exist in ancient Greek, Arabic, Latin, and Sanskrit, until at least early modern times"-- Provided by publisher

Contents:

Introduction: Why study mathematical commentaries?

Commentators at work. Philosophical commentaries on mathematical texts : the case of Proclus' commentary on the first book of Euclid's Elements

Characterizing a Sanskrit mathematical commentary : an exploration of Pṛthūdaka's Vāsanābhāṣya on progressions

Calling out Zheng Xuan (127-200 CE) at the crossroads of ritual, mathematics, sport, and classical commentary

Comparing commentaries. Astral commentaries within the Mesopotamian received tradition : the commentary to Enūma Anu Enlil 14 and Šumma Sîn ina Tāmartišu

Contrasting commentaries and contrasting subcommentaries on mathematical and Confucian canons, intentions and mathematical practices

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and indexes

Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on June 13, 2022)

Other Format:

Print version Mathematical commentaries in the ancient world

ISBN:

9781108884488

1108884482

OCLC:

1288422981

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license