Brief History of Mathematical Thought: Key Concepts and Where They Come From

In this concise and engaging book, Heaton traces the history of mathematical practice, focusing on conceptual innovations. From Stone Age rituals to algebra, calculus and the concept of computation, he aims to provide 'an informal and poetic guide to a range of mathematical thoughts'. He also looks at the role of mathematics in our attempts to comprehend the world around us, and at the profound influence of mathematical language.

Dr Luke Heaton graduated with first class honours in Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh before going on to take an MSc in Mathematics and the Logical Foundations of Computer Science at the University of Oxford. After spending a year making mathematically inspired art, he gained a BA in Architecture at the University of Westminster, before working as an architectural assistant at One20. He then returned to Oxford, completing a DPhil in Mathematical Biology. He is currently employed by the University of Oxford as a postgraduate research assistant in the Department of Plant Sciences. Luke?s research interests lie in mathematics and the mathematical modelling of biological phenomena, the history and philosophy of mathematics, morphogenesis and biological pattern formation, network theory, biophysics, and the statistical properties of efficient transport networks. He has published several papers on the biophysics of growth and transport in fungal networks.