Unity and Disunity in Mathematics
History and Overview
2013-12-10 v1
Abstract
The unity of mathematics has its power to compactify experiences in a form capable of being transferred and modified or adapted to new mathematical situations. Yet, we believe that the phrase "Unity of Mathematics" expresses a dream, an ideal that doesn't exist. We shall point to diachronic and cross cultural disunities, to semantic, semiotic and philosophic ambiguities and to the non-acceptance of certain mathematical texts by some practitioners of the subject.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1312.2133,
title = {Unity and Disunity in Mathematics},
author = {Bernhelm Booss-Bavnbek and Philip J. Davis},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1312.2133},
year = {2013}
}
Comments
4 pages. This is a condensed, sharpened and polemic outcome of our previous discussions on that topic, disseminated in arXiv:1204.5143