Book
Mathematics elsewhere : an exploration of ideas across cultures / Marcia Ascher.
Presenting mathematical ideas of peoples from a variety of small-scale and traditional cultures, this book humanizes our view of mathematics and expands our conception of what is mathematical. Through engaging examples of how particular societies structure time, reach decisions about the future, make models and maps, systematize relationships, and create intriguing figures, Marcia Ascher demonstrates that traditional cultures have mathematical ideas that are far more substantial and sophisticated than is generally acknowledged. Malagasy divination rituals, for example, rely on complex algebraic algorithms. And some cultures use calendars far more abstract and elegant than our own. Ascher also shows that certain concepts assumed to be universal--that time is a single progression, for instance, or that equality is a static relationship--are not. The Basque notion of equivalence, for example, is a dynamic and temporal one not adequately captured by the familiar equal sign. Other ideas taken to be the exclusive province of professionally trained Western mathematicians are, in fact, shared by people in many societies. The ideas discussed come from geographically varied cultures, including the Borana and Malagasy of Africa, the Tongans and Marshall Islanders of Oceania, the Tamil of South India, the Basques of Western Europe, and the Balinese and Kodi of Indonesia.
Record details
- ISBN: 0691070202
- ISBN: 9780691070209
- ISBN: 9780691120225
- ISBN: 0691120226
- Physical Description: x, 207 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm
- Publisher: Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, ©2002.
Content descriptions
- Bibliography, etc. Note:
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- Formatted Contents Note:
- The logic of divination -- Marking time -- Cycles of time -- Models and maps -- Systems of relationships -- Figures on the threshold -- Epilogue.
Search for related items by subject
- Subject:
- Mathematics > History.
Social history > Mathematics.
Mathematics. - Genre:
- History.
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Northwest Indian College.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show All Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lummi Library | QA 21 .A83 2002 | 288963 | Stacks | Available | - |
Electronic resources
- Version of Resource: http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/toc/prin031/2002108312.html
- Table of contents
- Related Resource: http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0705/2002108312-d.html
- Publisher description
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| 245 | 1 | 0. | ‡aMathematics elsewhere : ‡ban exploration of ideas across cultures / ‡cMarcia Ascher. |
| 260 | . | ‡aPrinceton, N.J. : ‡bPrinceton University Press, ‡c©2002. | |
| 300 | . | ‡ax, 207 pages : ‡billustrations, maps ; ‡c24 cm | |
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| 504 | . | ‡aIncludes bibliographical references and index. | |
| 505 | 0 | . | ‡aThe logic of divination -- Marking time -- Cycles of time -- Models and maps -- Systems of relationships -- Figures on the threshold -- Epilogue. |
| 520 | . | ‡aPresenting mathematical ideas of peoples from a variety of small-scale and traditional cultures, this book humanizes our view of mathematics and expands our conception of what is mathematical. Through engaging examples of how particular societies structure time, reach decisions about the future, make models and maps, systematize relationships, and create intriguing figures, Marcia Ascher demonstrates that traditional cultures have mathematical ideas that are far more substantial and sophisticated than is generally acknowledged. Malagasy divination rituals, for example, rely on complex algebraic algorithms. And some cultures use calendars far more abstract and elegant than our own. Ascher also shows that certain concepts assumed to be universal--that time is a single progression, for instance, or that equality is a static relationship--are not. The Basque notion of equivalence, for example, is a dynamic and temporal one not adequately captured by the familiar equal sign. Other ideas taken to be the exclusive province of professionally trained Western mathematicians are, in fact, shared by people in many societies. The ideas discussed come from geographically varied cultures, including the Borana and Malagasy of Africa, the Tongans and Marshall Islanders of Oceania, the Tamil of South India, the Basques of Western Europe, and the Balinese and Kodi of Indonesia. | |
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