Evolution of Mathematical Concepts (Paperback)

Paperback. Accessible to students and relevant to specialists, this remarkable book by a prominent educator offers a unique perspective on the evolutionary development of mathematics. Rather than conducting a survey of the history or philosophy of mathematics, Raymond L. Wilder envisions mathematics as a broad cultural phenomenon. His treatment examines and illustrates how such concepts as number and length were affected by historic and social events.Starting with a brief consideration of preliminary notions, this study explores the early evolution of numbers, the evolution of geometry, and the conquest of the infinite as embodied by real numbers. A detailed look at the processes of evolution concludes with an examination of the evolutionary aspects of modern mathematics. Rather than a survey of the history or philosophy of modern mathematics, this treatment envisions mathematics as a broad cultural phenomenon, examining historic and social influences on such concepts as number and length. 1973 edition. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.