The Definition of Mathematics: Philosophical and Pedagogical Aspects

Autor/in	Khait, Alexander
Titel	The Definition of Mathematics: Philosophical and Pedagogical Aspects
Quelle	In: Science & Education, 14 (2005) 2, S.137-159 (23 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0926-7220
DOI	10.1007/s11191-005-0029-9
Schlagwörter	Mathematics; Mathematics Instruction; Mathematics Education; History; Mathematical Concepts; Mathematical Linguistics + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Mathematik; Mathematics lessons; Mathematikunterricht; Mathematische Bildung; Geschichte; Geschichtsdarstellung; Mathematische Linguistik; Mathematische Sprache
Abstract	There is a strange fact that many works written with the purpose to explain what is mathematics, somehow avoid the issue. This paper is aimed at filling this gap. After discussing various descriptions of mathematics as they appear in literature, it is suggested that mathematics is an essentially linguistic activity characterized by association of words with precise meanings. Educational implications of this idea are considered in the light of (1) a strong tendency of most humans to the fuzzy way of thought as described by the dual-process theory developed by researchers of human reasoning; (2) the fact that the main mathematics-related skill needed in our computerized, information saturated society is a proper mind-set rather than knowledge of some facts or techniques. The proposed definition of mathematics can enrich debates on its nature, in particular, connecting natural human psychological characteristics with philosophical questions of the origin of mathematics. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10