Mathematicians and their Gods
Interactions between mathematics and religious beliefs
Published on 23. July 2015
Book
Hardback
306 pages
978-0-19-870305-1 (ISBN)
Description
To open a newspaper or turn on the television it would appear that science and religion are polar opposites - mutually exclusive bedfellows competing for hearts and minds. There is little indication of the rich interaction between religion and science throughout history, much of which continues today. From ancient to modern times, mathematicians have played a key role in this interaction.
This is a book on the relationship between mathematics and religious beliefs. It aims to show that, throughout scientific history, mathematics has been used to make sense of the 'big' questions of life, and that religious beliefs sometimes drove mathematicians to mathematics to help them make sense of the world.
Containing contributions from a wide array of scholars in the fields of philosophy, history of science and history of mathematics, this book shows that the intersection between mathematics and theism is rich in both culture and character. Chapters cover a fascinating range of topics including the Sect of the Pythagoreans, Newton's views on the apocalypse, Charles Dodgson's Anglican faith and Goedel's proof of the existence of God.
This is a book on the relationship between mathematics and religious beliefs. It aims to show that, throughout scientific history, mathematics has been used to make sense of the 'big' questions of life, and that religious beliefs sometimes drove mathematicians to mathematics to help them make sense of the world.
Containing contributions from a wide array of scholars in the fields of philosophy, history of science and history of mathematics, this book shows that the intersection between mathematics and theism is rich in both culture and character. Chapters cover a fascinating range of topics including the Sect of the Pythagoreans, Newton's views on the apocalypse, Charles Dodgson's Anglican faith and Goedel's proof of the existence of God.
Reviews / Votes
Perhaps this is the most valuable contribution of Mathematicians and their Gods as a whole: it discusses ideas which must often appear strange to modern readers, and in explaining their context and influence helps us to understand how they captured the imaginations of our mathematical predecessors. This book will appeal to all those with an interest in mathematical history, regardless of their own religious views. * Paul Taylor, Mathematics Today * Lawrence and McCartney's volume captures the various ways in which mathematics and religion have represented commensurable, even interconnected, systems of knowledge and belief. ... The collection will serve these readers well and could also benefit historians of science or theology unfamiliar with the ground covered in these essays. * Laura Kotevska, British Journal for the History of Science * Lawrence and McCartney have done an admirable job in assembling a book of remarkable scholarship on a topic which challenges readers working in science or technology. * Giovanni Pistone, ESSSAT News & Reviews * fascinating from cover to cover * Michael N. Fried, Mathematical Thinking and Learning *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
625 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-870305-1 (9780198703051)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Snezana Lawrence | Mark McCartney
Mathematicians and their Gods
Interactions between mathematics and religious beliefs
E-Book
07/2015
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€25.99
Available for download
Snezana Lawrence | Mark McCartney
Mathematicians and their Gods
Interactions between mathematics and religious beliefs
E-Book
07/2015
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€23.49
Available for download
Persons
Snezana Lawrence is a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics Education at Bath Spa University. She has been involved with a number of national and international initiatives to promote the use of the history of mathematics in mathematics education. Snezana is on the Advisory Board of the History and Pedagogy of Mathematics Group (an affiliate of the International Commission on Mathematics Instruction), and is Mathematics Programme Director of the Prince's Teaching Institute Schools' Programme. She in on the Editorial Boards of BSHM Bulletin (as Associate Editor from January 2013) and Mathematics Today. Her website mathsisgoodforyou.com has attracted more than 4 million visitors since its launch in 2005.
Mark McCartney is a Senior Lecturer in mathematics at the University of Ulster. His research and scholarly interests include nonlinear dynamics, mathematical modelling and the history of science. He is the editor (with Andrew Whitaker) of Physicists of Ireland (IOP, 2003) and (with Andrew Whitaker and Raymond Flood) of Kelvin - Life, Labours and Legacy (OUP, 2008) and James Clerk Maxwell - Perspectives on His Life and Work (OUP, 2014).
Mark McCartney is a Senior Lecturer in mathematics at the University of Ulster. His research and scholarly interests include nonlinear dynamics, mathematical modelling and the history of science. He is the editor (with Andrew Whitaker) of Physicists of Ireland (IOP, 2003) and (with Andrew Whitaker and Raymond Flood) of Kelvin - Life, Labours and Legacy (OUP, 2008) and James Clerk Maxwell - Perspectives on His Life and Work (OUP, 2014).
Content
1. Introduction ; 2. The Pythagoreans: Number and Numerology ; 3. Divine light ; 4. Kepler and his Trinitarian Cosmology ; 5. The Lull before the storm: combinatorics in the Renaissance ; 6. Mystical Arithmetic in the Renaissance: From Biblical Hermeneutics to a Philosophical Tool ; 7. Newton, God, and the mathematics of the Two Books ; 8. Maria Gaetana Agnesi, mathematician of God ; 9. Capital G for Geometry: Masonic lore and the history of geometry ; 10. Charles Dodgeson's Work for God ; 11. P. G. Tait, Balfour Stewart and The Unseen Universe ; 12. Faith and Flatland ; 13. Godel's "proof" for the existence of God