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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The Agnostic Structure Of Data Science Methods, Domenico Napoletani, Marco Panza, Daniele Struppa
The Agnostic Structure Of Data Science Methods, Domenico Napoletani, Marco Panza, Daniele Struppa
MPP Published Research
In this paper we argue that data science is a coherent and novel approach to empirical problems that, in its most general form, does not build understanding about phenomena. Within the new type of mathematization at work in data science, mathematical methods are not selected because of any relevance for a problem at hand; mathematical methods are applied to a specific problem only by `forcing’, i.e. on the basis of their ability to reorganize the data for further analysis and the intrinsic richness of their mathematical structure. In particular, we argue that deep learning neural networks are best understood within …
Book Review: How To Bake Pi: An Edible Exploration Of The Mathematics Of Mathematics, Darren B. Glass
Book Review: How To Bake Pi: An Edible Exploration Of The Mathematics Of Mathematics, Darren B. Glass
Math Faculty Publications
If you think about it, mathematics is really just one big analogy. For one example, the very concept of the number three is an drawing an analogy between a pile with three rocks, a collection of three books, and a plate with three carrots on it. For another, the idea of a group is drawing an analogy between adding real numbers, multiplying matrices, and many other mathematical structures. So much of what we do as mathematicians involves abstracting concrete things, and what is abstraction other than a big analogy? [excerpt]
Philosophy Of Mathematics: Theories And Defense, Amy E. Maffit
Philosophy Of Mathematics: Theories And Defense, Amy E. Maffit
Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects
In this paper I discuss six philosophical theories of mathematics including logicism, intuitionism, formalism, platonism, structuralism, and moderate realism. I also discuss problems that arise within these theories and attempts to solve them. Finally, I attempt to harmonize the best features of moderate realism and structuralism, presenting a theory that I take to best describe current mathematical practice.
Prove It!, Kenny W. Moran
Prove It!, Kenny W. Moran
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
A dialogue between a mathematics professor, Frank, and his daughter, Sarah, a mathematical savant with a powerful mathematical intuition. Sarah's intuition allows her to stumble into some famous theorems from number theory, but her lack of academic mathematical background makes it difficult for her to understand Frank's insistence on the value of proof and formality.
Loss Of Vision: How Mathematics Turned Blind While It Learned To See More Clearly, Bernd Buldt, Dirk Schlimm
Loss Of Vision: How Mathematics Turned Blind While It Learned To See More Clearly, Bernd Buldt, Dirk Schlimm
Bernd Buldt
To discuss the developments of mathematics that have to do with the introduction of new objects, we distinguish between ‘Aristotelian’ and ‘non-Aristotelian’ accounts of abstraction and mathematical ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ approaches. The development of mathematics from the 19th to the 20th century is then characterized as a move from a ‘bottom-up’ to a ‘top-down’ approach. Since the latter also leads to more abstract objects for which the Aristotelian account of abstraction is not well-suited, this development has also lead to a decrease of visualizations in mathematical practice.
Sylvester: Ushering In The Modern Era Of Research On Odd Perfect Numbers, Steven Gimbel, John Jaroma
Sylvester: Ushering In The Modern Era Of Research On Odd Perfect Numbers, Steven Gimbel, John Jaroma
Philosophy Faculty Publications
In 1888, James Joseph Sylvester (1814-1897) published a series of papers that he hoped would pave the way for a general proof of the nonexistence of an odd perfect number (OPN). Seemingly unaware that more than fifty years earlier Benjamin Peirce had proved that an odd perfect number must have at least four distinct prime divisors, Sylvester began his fundamental assault on the problem by establishing the same result. Later that same year, he strengthened his conclusion to five. These findings would help to mark the beginning of the modern era of research on odd perfect numbers. Sylvester's bound stood …