Alexander Paseau - Is Historical Mathematics Largely True?Alexander Paseau
1117 Cathedral of Learning - 11th Floor
University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh 15260
United States
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The Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh invites you to join us for our Lunch Time Talk. Attend in person at 1117 Cathedral of Learning or visit our live stream on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg.
LTT: Alexander Paseau
Tuesday, November 17th @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EST
Title: Is Historical Mathematics Largely True?
Abstract:
Historical mathematics is widely regarded as a repository of truths. It would seem unusually sceptical to deny that, say, ancient mathematical cultures established many truths about numbers and shapes, such as Pythagoras’ Theorem or instances of it for specific right-angled triangles.
My talk will list some of the ways in which this assumption might be tested. I’ll then focus on two case studies, both involving extra-mathematical beliefs that apparently ‘infect’, or in some way threaten, the truth of older mathematics. The first concerns 19th-century matricial algebra and the second 18th-century geometry.
This talk will also be available live streamed on:
Zoom at https://pitt.zoom.us/j/91289849273
YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg.
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