History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons^™

Augustine’S Mathematical Realism, Paul Zwier

ACMS Journal 2004

This paper begins by outlining an argument advanced against mathematical realism by Philip Kitcher. It then sketches the life and work of the great Christian philosopher and theologian, Augustine of Hippo. It discusses Augustine’s view that there exist eternal ideas in the mind of God that God used as templates in his creation of material objects. Among these are ideas about numbers and other mathematical objects. It also discusses Augustine’s understanding of how human beings have access to such ideas. It concludes with a discussion of some possible objections to Augustine’s perspective.

The Fourth Dimension And The Theology Of Edwin Abbott Abbott, Thomas Banchoff

ACMS Journal 2004

This paper is a brief biography of Edwin Abbott Abbott, author of Flatland, and a sketch of the main ideas in the book. It also incorporates some personal reflections.

Mathematical Reflections: Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants, Karl J. Smith

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

The layperson's response to mathematics is often that of desperation. When we tell people our occupation, do we more often than not hear about their unpleasant experiences with mathematics. They often tell us, "I studied algebra in high school and haven't used it since!" Indeed, that may be true. However, we can reply, "How many times has algebra been used on you?" We are all restricted, and protected, by the formulas of mathematics. In the mysterious metaphors we have agreed to cal mathematics, all creation is involved, from the symbol-happy logician down to the cunning geometers, the bees. When I …

Observations On Mathematics And The Christian Faith, W. David Laverell, Carl J. Sinke

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

There is little doubt that mathematicians are becoming more concerned with the foundations on which their discipline rests, the meaning of their work, and the philosophical stance implicit in what they do. This concern is prompted by serious questions which have been raised in recent years, questions dealing with the nature of mathematical truth, the nature of proof, certainty (or lack thereof) in mathematics, and the relationship of mathematics to the physical world. This has been particularly true for those of us involved in teaching since it is apparent that good mathematics education cannot ignore these issures.

Proof And Intution, Michael Detlefsen

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

This paper discusses various perspectives on proof and intuition by examing two epistemic systems, Intuition Intensive and Logic Intensive, and Jules Henri Poincaré's objections to the latter.

Logic And Proof For Mathematics: A Twentieth Century Perspective, Calvin Jongsma

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

This talk reports on the author's experience in teaching college mathematics students the basics of logic and proof in preparation for their transitioning to upper-level proof-based mathematics courses, following that up with a philosophical and historical analysis of mathematicians' attitudes toward such a project going back to nineteenth- and twentieth-century developments in logic and foundations (De Morgan, Boole, Frege, Russell, and Hilbert). The natural deduction approach to logic and inference developed in the mid-twentieth century by Jaskowski and Fitch is recommended as a much better focused approach for learning how to do proofs in mathematics. This idea is systematically developed …

Riesz Spaces And Their Applications In Economics, Calvin E. Piston

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

We will examine an economic model of pure exchange and some results concerning different notions of equilibrium. In particular, we will focus on the role played by the theory of Riesz space.

Variations On A Theme, Robert Creighton Buck

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

An autobiographical narration by Robert Creighton Buck, detailing his experiences in the field of mathematics, and the various questions and themes reoccurring in the mathematical sciences.

Another Look At Pick's Theorem, Dale Varberg

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

In this paper, the author discusses his experience building a proof for Pick's Theorem and theorem's history.

An Activist Model Of The Metaphysics Of Mathematics, Christopher Menzel

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

No abstract provided.

Conic Sections In Ip, Richard Laatsch

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

No abstract provided.

3:16 - An Approach To Bible Study, Donald E. Knuth

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

No abstract provided.

Introduction (1987), Paul Zwier

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

A Sixth Conference on Mathematics from a Christian Perspective

Edited by Robert L. Brabenec

Table Of Contents (1987), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

A Sixth Conference on Mathematics from a Christian Perspective

Edited by Robert L. Brabenec

Proof And Intuition, Michael Detlefsen

ACMS Journal 2004

This paper aims to give a clear exposition of two critiques of logicism. The intuitionist, Brouwer, is best known for rejecting the law of the excluded middle (his "special critique.") The paper argues that Brouwer's "general critique" is deeper and more extensive than this. That is, Brouwer is arguing that mathematical knowledge requires a kind of direct mathematical experience, analogous to sensory experience and this cannot be attained simply by linguistic operations independently of experience. It also discusses Poincare's critiques - that there is a huge difference between genuine mathematical insight and an ability to logically manipulate mathematical truths and …

On Universal Tests For The Truth Of World Views: Their Existence And Identifiability, William Buttelmann, Paul Fienberg

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1985

In his book, Christian Apologetics, Norman Geisler proposes a universal test for the truth of world views. We examine this concept and find that it raises serious difficulties. This paper first presents some basic definitions for "world view" and "truth-value of a world view," then studies the concept of a universal test for the truth of world views in light of these definitions. Geisler has proposed what amounts to a universal decision procedure to determine the truth-value of world views. We show that, in the general case, no such universal decision procedure exists. Whether or not such universal tests for …

Selected Bibliography Of Donald Maccrimmon Mackay, Gene B. Chase

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1985

A selected bibliography of Donald MacCrimmon MacKay, including his written works and biographical sources.

The Significance Of Formally Undecidable Propositions For The Use Of Classical Logic In Theological Arguments, Gordon E. Whitney

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1985

No abstract provided.

Faith And Mathematics - A Different Perspective, James E. Mann, Jr.

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1985

No abstract provided.

Artificial Intelligence? - A Christian Appraisal, Donald M. Mackay

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1985

No abstract provided.

Is Rational Thinking The Best Thinking?, Richard Laatsch

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1985

No abstract provided.

Undergraduate Mathematical Modeling: When And What To Teach, Frank R. Giordano, Maurice D. Weir

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1985

No abstract provided.

Introduction (1985), Robert Brabenec

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1985

A Fifth Conference on Mathematics from a Christian Perspective

Edited by Robert L. Brabenec, Wheaton College

Table Of Contents (1985), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1985

A Fifth Conference on Mathematics from a Christian Perspective

Edited by Robert L. Brabenec, Wheaton College

Using Mathematical Concepts To Illustrate Scriptural And Spiritual Ideas, Robert Brabenec

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1983

Christian mathematics faculty and students respond in differing ways to this idea of applying mathematics to Scripture, and vice-versa. Mathematics is man-made, while Scripture is inspired by God, so they should be disjoint entities. However, it is well known that the Scripture used analogies of familiar human objects and ideas in order to explain spiritual ideas. This paper discusses various mathematical concepts and how they illustrate Scriptural and spiritual ideas.

The Activitiy And Application Of Mathematics, R. S. D. Thomas

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1983

There are four so-called philosophies of mathematics that I regard as totally discredited, formalism, intuitionism, logicism, and Platonism. It is a common feature of the ism philosophies of mathematics that they do not take the application of mathematics very seriously. This paper examines a view of mathematics that takes applications seriously.

Arrogance And Humility In The Philosophy Of Mathematics, James Murdock

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1983

This paper explores the philosophical, sociological, and theological questions related to the field of mathematics and whether or not it is ethical to pursue when its discoveries are used for evil.

An Outline Of A Complementarist Philosophy Of The Sciences, With A Special Reference To Mathematics, Willem Kuyk

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1983

No abstract provided.

A Neuropsychodynamical Theory Of Mathematics Learning, Willem Kuyk

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1983

No abstract provided.

One Possible Outline For A First Undergraduate Course In Philosophy Of Mathematics, Harold Heie

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1983

No abstract provided.