Prolegomena Mathematica. From Apollonius of Perga to Late Neoplatonism. With an Appendix on Pappus and the History of Platonism.

MANSFIELD, Jaap:

ISBN 10: 9004112677 / ISBN 13: 9789004112674

Published by Leiden, etc.: Brill, 1998., 1998

About this Item

First Edition. vii, 178 pp; ads. Original linen. Upper corners of covers slightly bumped, else Near Fine, in near fine dust jacket. Philosophia Antiqua Vol. LXXX. 'This is the first study to deal with the history of Greek mathematics - starting with Appollonius and including astronomy - as part of the history of literary culture. It attempts to find out how mathematical works were presented by original authors (e.g. Ptolemy), and introduced and explained by commentators (e.g. Pappus who is at the centre of this enquiry, Eutocius, and prolegomena by late Anonymi). The manner in which mathematical treatises were presented and studied is entirely comparable to that practised in e.g. philosophy, medicine, biblical and literary studies . Discussion of introductory issues is a standard feature, and in mathematics the development from the implicitly expressed to the explicitly expressed and from there to scholastic routine is the same as in these other fields' (Brill Web site).

Seller Inventory # 15286

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Prolegomena Mathematica. From Apollonius of Perga to Late Neoplatonism. With an Appendix on Pappus and the History of Platonism.
• Publisher: Leiden, etc.: Brill, 1998.
• Publication Date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9004112677
• ISBN 13: 9789004112674
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fine

About this title

Synopsis

This is the first study to deal with the history of Greek mathematics - starting with Appollonius and including astronomy - as part of the history of literary culture. It attempts to find out how mathematical works were presented by original authors (e.g. Ptolemy), and introduced and explained by commentators (e.g. Pappus who is at the centre of this enquiry, Eutocius, and prolegomena by late Anonymi). The manner in which mathematical treatises were presented and studied is entirely comparable to that practised in e.g. philosophy, medicine, biblical and literary studies (see the author's Prolegomena, (Brill, 1994)). Discussion of introductory issues is a standard feature, and in mathematics the development from the implicitly expressed to the explicitly expressed and from there to scholastic routine is the same as in these other fields.

About the Author

Jaap Mansfeld (1936), is Professor of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, Utrecht University. He has published widely on ancient philosophy and its historiography, both in ancient and modern times.