It’s not that they couldn’t

Reviel Netz

Revue d'histoire des mathématiques (2002)

  • Volume: 8, Issue: 2, page 263-290
  • ISSN: 1262-022X

Abstract

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The article offers a critique of the notion of ‘concepts’ in the history of mathematics. Authors in the field sometimes assume an argument from conceptual impossibility: that certain authors could not do X because they did not have concept Y. The case of the divide between Greek and modern mathematics is discussed in detail, showing that the argument from conceptual impossibility is empirically as well as theoretically flawed. An alternative account of historical diversity is offered, based on self-sustaining practices, as well as on divergence being understood not in terms of intellectual values themselves (which may well be universal) but in terms of their rankings within different cultures and epochs.

How to cite

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Netz, Reviel. "It’s not that they couldn’t." Revue d'histoire des mathématiques 8.2 (2002): 263-290. <http://eudml.org/doc/252033>.

@article{Netz2002,
abstract = {The article offers a critique of the notion of ‘concepts’ in the history of mathematics. Authors in the field sometimes assume an argument from conceptual impossibility: that certain authors could not do X because they did not have concept Y. The case of the divide between Greek and modern mathematics is discussed in detail, showing that the argument from conceptual impossibility is empirically as well as theoretically flawed. An alternative account of historical diversity is offered, based on self-sustaining practices, as well as on divergence being understood not in terms of intellectual values themselves (which may well be universal) but in terms of their rankings within different cultures and epochs.},
author = {Netz, Reviel},
journal = {Revue d'histoire des mathématiques},
keywords = {ancient greek mathematics; methodology; Euclid; Archimedes; Hipparchus; Diophantus; Hero; Ancient Greek mathematics; conceptual impossibility methodology},
language = {eng},
number = {2},
pages = {263-290},
publisher = {Société mathématique de France},
title = {It’s not that they couldn’t},
url = {http://eudml.org/doc/252033},
volume = {8},
year = {2002},
}

TY - JOUR
AU - Netz, Reviel
TI - It’s not that they couldn’t
JO - Revue d'histoire des mathématiques
PY - 2002
PB - Société mathématique de France
VL - 8
IS - 2
SP - 263
EP - 290
AB - The article offers a critique of the notion of ‘concepts’ in the history of mathematics. Authors in the field sometimes assume an argument from conceptual impossibility: that certain authors could not do X because they did not have concept Y. The case of the divide between Greek and modern mathematics is discussed in detail, showing that the argument from conceptual impossibility is empirically as well as theoretically flawed. An alternative account of historical diversity is offered, based on self-sustaining practices, as well as on divergence being understood not in terms of intellectual values themselves (which may well be universal) but in terms of their rankings within different cultures and epochs.
LA - eng
KW - ancient greek mathematics; methodology; Euclid; Archimedes; Hipparchus; Diophantus; Hero; Ancient Greek mathematics; conceptual impossibility methodology
UR - http://eudml.org/doc/252033
ER -

References

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