EDSE 6641 History of Mathematical Thought
This course treats the major mathematical creations and developments from ancient times through the first few decades of the 20th century. It aims to present the central ideas, with particular emphasis on those currents of activity that have loomed largest in the main periods of the life of mathematics and have been influential in promoting and shaping subsequent mathematical activity. The concept of mathematics, the changes in that concept in different periods, and the mathematicians' own understanding of what they were achieving are also vital concerns. The organization of the course emphasizes the leading mathematical themes rather than the men. The goal is for the student to develop greater depth of understanding of mathematics, and to learn a variety of methods for approaching mathematical problems. In the modern classroom we tend to focus on mathematics as calculation and symbol manipulation, but the calculation algorithms and the symbol systems were developed from earlier methods, and learning those methods greatly informs our appreciation of modern methods.
Prerequisite
Enrollment in Woodrow Wilson Georgia Teaching Fellowship Program