The Mathematical Experience
The Mathematical Experience is a 1981 book by Philip J. Davis and Reuben Hersh that discusses the practice of modern mathematics from a historical and philosophical perspective. It won the 1983 National Book Award in the Science category.
It is frequently cited by mathematicians as a book that was influential in their decision to continue their studies in graduate school and has been hailed as a classic of mathematical literature.[1] The book drew a critical review from Martin Gardner[2], who disagreed with some of the authors' philosophical opinions, but was well-received otherwise.
A study edition and also a study guide for use with the book have been released, both co-authored with Elena A. Marchisotto. The authors wrote a follow-up book, Descartes' Dream: The World According to Mathematics, and both have separately written other books on related subjects, such as Davis' Mathematics And Common Sense: A Case of Creative Tension and Hersh's What is Mathematics, Really?
References
- ^ jkauzlar (perhaps James Joseph Kauzlarich?) (18 September 20002). "MathForge.net--Power Tools for Online Mathematics". Archived from the original on 2006-10-022. http://web.archive.org/web/20061002203307/http://mathforge.net/index.jsp?page=seeReplies&messageNum=103. "One of the classics of mathematical literature,The Mathematical Experience, by Philip J Davis and Rueben Hersh, remains pertinent and fulfills its lofty ambitions even 20 years past its 1981 publication. In accordance with its title, it attempts to describe, in light of the turbulent history and philosophy of mathematics, the experience of being a mathematician. It focuses on the proof, without going fully into the rigorous how-to details, gives examples of some highly interesting and famous proofs, as well as the outstanding problems of mathematics (the Reimann hypothesis, etcï¿?), and goes on to speculate on what a proof really means, in relationship to actual truth. Other topics include mathematics in education and some (obviously-outdated, but still mostly relevant) computer mathematics. A new edition, published in 1998, includes exercises and problems, making the book more suitable for classrooms."
- ^ Gardner, Martin (August 13, 1981). "Is Mathematics for Real?". New York Review of Books: 37–40.
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