Mathematics, Education, and Philosophy: An International Perspective

This book illustrates the breadth of theoretical and philosophical perspectives that can be brought to bear on mathematics and education. Part 1, "Reconceptualizing the Philosophy of Mathematics," contains the following chapters: (1) "Fresh Breezes in the Philosophy of Mathematics" (R. Hersh); (2) What Can the Sociologist of Knowledge Say About 2 + 2 = 4?" (D. Bloor); (3) "The Dialogical Nature of Mathematics" (P. Ernest); and (4) "Structuralism and Post-modernism in the Philosophy of Mathematics" (T. Tymoczko). Part 2, "Post-modernist and Post-structuralist Approaches," contains: (5) "Reasoning in a Post-modern Age" (V. Walkerdine); (6) "Mathematical Writing, Thinking, and Virtual Reality" (B. Rotman); (7) "Mathematics: The Problematical Notion of Closure" (A. Tsatsaroni & J. Evans); (8) "On the Ecologies of Mathematical Language and the Rhythms of the Earth" (D. W. Jardine); (9) "Discursive Saturation and School Mathematics Texts: A Strand from a Language of Description" (P. Dowling); (10) "The Dominance of Structure in 'Post-structural' Critiques of Mathematics Education" (J. Vass); and (11) "Describing the Mathematics You Are Part Of: A Post-structuralist Account of Mathematical Learning" (T. Brown). Part 3, "The Human Face of Mathematics," contains: (12) "Mathematics and Art: Cold Calipers Against Warm Flesh?" (P. J. Davis); (13) "Skolem and Godel" (H. Wang); and (14) "Different Ways of Knowing: Contrasting Styles of Argument in Indian and Greek Mathematical Traditions" (G. G. Joseph). The final section, Part 4, "The Social Context of Mathematics and Education," contains: (15) "The Social Life of Mathematics" (S. Restivo); (16) "Research in Gender and Mathematics Education: The Production of Difference" (M. Dunne & J. Johnston); and (17) "Ethno-mathematics, the Nature of Mathematics and Mathematics Education" (U. D'Ambrosio). Contains references with each chapter and a subject index. (MKR)