Mathematics: Its Contents, Methods, and Meaning

by A. D. Aleksandrov (Editor), A. N. Kolmogorov (Editor), M. A. Lavrent'ev (Editor), S. H. Gould (Translator), T. Bartha (Translator)

Overview

A comprehensive exposition of mathematics, tracing the history and cultural significance of mathematical ideas from antiquity to the present day.

Mathematics, which originated in antiquity in the needs of daily life, has developed into an immense system of widely varied disciplines. Like the other sciences, it reflects the laws of the material world around us and serves as a powerful instrument for our knowledge and mastery of nature. But the high level of abstraction peculiar to mathematics means that its newer branches are relatively inaccessible to nonspecialists. This abstract character of mathematics gave birth even in antiquity to idealistic notions about its independence of the material world. In recent years, many popular books about mathematics have appeared, but many of them have neglected the twentieth century, the undisputed "golden age" of mathematics. This book undertakes the ultimate task of mathematical exposition, outlining the history and cultural significance of mathematical ideas and their continuous development from the earliest beginnings of history to the present day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780262510059
Publisher:	MIT Press
Publication date:	03/15/1969
Series:	The MIT Press , #1
Edition description:	second edition
Pages:	398
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

What People are Saying About This

Morris Kline

This unique work presents the amazing panorama of mathematics proper. It is the best answer in print to what mathematics contains both on the elementary and advanced levels.

Endorsement

This unique work presents the amazing panorama of mathematics proper. It is the best answer in print to what mathematics contains both on the elementary and advanced levels.

—Morris Kline, New York University

From the Publisher

"This unique work presents the amazing panorama of mathematics proper. It is the best answer in print to what mathematics contains both on the elementary and advanced levels." Morris Kline, New York University

Editorial Reviews

The high quality of exposition, the unparalleled breadth, and the emphasis on concept rather than proof for proof's sake should do much to raise the level of mathematical literacy everywhere.

—Roger S. Pinkham, American Scientist

From the Publisher

The high quality of exposition, the unparalleled breadth, and the emphasis on concept rather than proof for proof's sake should do much to raise the level of mathematical literacy everywhere.

American Scientist - Roger S. Pinkham