The Nature of Mathematics: A Humanistic Philosophy of Mathematical Reality (Second Edition) / Hardbound

UPC: 9789632791975 / 978-9632791975

MPN: 9789632791975

Brand Name: Typotex Kft.

Product Type: Book (Kötve/Hardbound)

Language: Hungarian (Magyar)

Genre: Mathematics Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Mathematical Education

Overview

The Nature of Mathematics (A matematika természete) by Reuben Hersh is a groundbreaking philosophical exploration that challenges conventional perceptions of mathematics as an isolated, abstract discipline. This 371-page Hungarian edition, published by Typotex Kft. in 2012, addresses a fundamental paradox: while mathematics serves as the language of natural and technical sciences—fundamentally determining our quality of life—it remains widely viewed as a "necessary evil" even among highly educated individuals, not just in Hungary but globally. Distinguished mathematician and philosopher Reuben Hersh, Professor Emeritus at the University of New Mexico, presents a humanistic philosophy of mathematics that rejects the cold formalism of axiomatic set theory and formal logic. Instead, he reveals mathematics as a living, human activity rooted in intuition, built upon existing knowledge through trial-and-error problem-solving that embraces mistakes and dead ends as integral to mathematical discovery. This second edition introduces readers to the roots and contemporary representatives of humanistic mathematical philosophy, making advanced philosophical concepts accessible to anyone curious about mathematics' true place in human culture.

A matematika természete: Humanista filozófia a matematikai valóságról (Második kiadás)

Reuben Hersh A matematika természete című műve úttörő filozófiai kutatás, amely megkérdőjelezi a matematika hagyományos felfogását mint elszigetelt, absztrakt diszciplínát. Ez a 371 oldalas magyar kiadás, amelyet a Typotex Kft. adott ki 2012-ben, egy alapvető paradoxont vizsgál: miközben a matematika a természet- és műszaki tudományok nyelveként szolgál—alapvetően meghatározva életminőségünket—továbbra is széles körben „szükséges rosszként" tekintik rá még a magasan képzett egyének körében is, nem csak Magyarországon, hanem globálisan. A kiváló matematikus és filozófus, Reuben Hersh, a New Mexikói Egyetem professor emeritusa, a matematika humanista filozófiáját mutatja be, amely elutasítja az axiomatikus halmazelmélet és formális logika hideg formalizmusát. Ehelyett a matematikát élő, emberi tevékenységként tárja fel, amely az intuíción alapul, meglévő ismeretekre támaszkodó próbálgatásos problémamegoldáson keresztül épül fel, és a tévedéseket és zsákutcákat a matematikai felfedezés szerves részeként fogadja el. Ez a második kiadás bemutatja az olvasóknak a humanista matematikai filozófia gyökereit és kortárs képviselőit, hozzáférhetővé téve a fejlett filozófiai koncepciókat mindenki számára, aki kíváncsi a matematika valódi helyére az emberi kultúrában.

Product Features

• Format: Kötve (Hardbound) - durable binding for lasting reference
• Pages: 371 pages - comprehensive philosophical treatment
• Language: Hungarian (Magyar)
• ISBN: 9789632791975 / 978-9632791975
• Publication Year: 2012 (Second Edition/Második kiadás)
• Publication Location: Budapest, Hungary
• Publisher: Typotex Kft.
• Subject Areas: Philosophy of Mathematics, Mathematical Education, History of Mathematics, Epistemology
• Target Audience: Mathematicians, philosophers, educators, students, general readers interested in mathematical thought
• Educational Level: University level and educated general readership
• Philosophical Approach: Humanistic mathematics philosophy
• Edition: Second revised edition with updated content

Interesting Facts

About the Author: Reuben Hersh is Professor Emeritus at the University of New Mexico, where he distinguished himself as both a mathematician and a philosopher of mathematics. His unique perspective bridges rigorous mathematical practice with accessible philosophical reflection, making him one of the most influential voices in humanistic mathematical philosophy. Hersh's career spans pure mathematical research and profound philosophical inquiry into mathematics' nature, giving him authority to speak from both inside and outside the mathematical establishment.

The Universal Paradox: Hersh identifies a striking global contradiction that transcends cultural boundaries: mathematics fundamentally shapes our quality of life through its role as the language of science and technology, yet people worldwide—including those with advanced degrees—regard it with fear and distaste. This paradox exists as much in Hungary as anywhere else, suggesting deep-rooted issues with how mathematics is taught and perceived rather than problems inherent to mathematics itself.

Humanistic Philosophy of Mathematics: The book's central contribution is articulating a "humanistic" philosophy of mathematics that opposes the dominant formalist tradition. Rather than viewing mathematics as a Platonic realm of eternal, perfect forms discovered through axiomatic-deductive reasoning, Hersh presents mathematics as a distinctly human social activity—created, refined, and understood through human cognitive processes, cultural transmission, and historical development.

Mathematics as Living Practice: Hersh revolutionizes our understanding by showing that actual mathematical work ("matematizálás"—doing mathematics) is not about discovering closed, crystal-clear structures but about intuition-based, trial-and-error problem-solving rooted in existing knowledge. Real mathematicians make mistakes, pursue dead ends, and work through messy processes—a reality obscured by polished published proofs that hide the creative struggle behind mathematical discovery.

The History of Mathematical Errors: The book emphasizes that mathematics history is filled with false starts, mistakes, and abandoned approaches. This historical reality contradicts the public image of mathematics as infallible and predetermined. By acknowledging error as essential to mathematical progress, Hersh humanizes the discipline and makes it psychologically accessible to learners who might otherwise be intimidated by mathematics' reputation for absolute certainty.

Cultural Alienation: Hersh diagnoses why mathematics seems like a "foreign body" (idegen test) within human culture: the insistence on exact, uncertainty-free foundations through axiomatic set theory and formal logic creates barriers that make mathematics impenetrable without extensive prerequisite study. This artificial barrier separates mathematics from other human cultural activities that tolerate ambiguity, intuition, and gradual refinement.

Philosophical Roots and Contemporary Voices: The second edition introduces readers to both the historical foundations of humanistic mathematics philosophy and its current prominent representatives. This genealogical approach situates Hersh's ideas within a broader intellectual tradition, showing readers they're joining an ongoing conversation rather than accepting one individual's idiosyncratic views.

Accessibility Without Compromise: Despite tackling sophisticated philosophical questions about mathematical ontology (what mathematical objects are), epistemology (how we know mathematical truths), and methodology (how mathematics actually progresses), Hersh writes for an educated general audience rather than only professional philosophers. This accessibility aligns with his humanistic philosophy—mathematics and its philosophy should be public intellectual property, not esoteric knowledge.

Quality of Life Connection: The book's opening assertion that mathematics' development fundamentally determines quality of life is profound. Through computational science, cryptography, optimization, statistical analysis, and countless other applications, mathematical advances directly impact healthcare, communication, transportation, finance, and every aspect of modern existence—making mathematical education and public mathematical literacy urgent social concerns.

Second Edition Significance: As a second edition (második kiadás), this 2012 publication represents refined thinking incorporating feedback, additional examples, and updated philosophical discussions from the original edition. Second editions typically indicate sustained interest and impact, suggesting the first edition successfully reached its audience and warranted continued availability.

Hungarian Mathematical Culture: Published by Typotex for Hungarian readers, this translation serves Hungary's distinguished mathematical tradition—a nation that has produced numerous Fields Medalists and mathematical innovators despite its small population. Making philosophical reflection on mathematics available in Hungarian enriches this tradition by encouraging critical examination of mathematical practice and pedagogy.

Publishers

Typotex Kft. is Hungary's premier academic publisher specializing in scientific, mathematical, and technical literature, based in Budapest. With a distinguished reputation for publishing high-quality Hungarian-language educational materials, Typotex serves as a crucial bridge between international scholarly discourse and Hungarian-speaking academic communities. The publisher's catalog encompasses mathematics, physics, computer science, engineering, and philosophy of science, working closely with Hungary's leading universities and research institutions. Typotex's commitment to making complex scientific and philosophical ideas accessible in Hungarian reflects a broader cultural mission: ensuring that Hungarian students and scholars can engage with cutting-edge intellectual work in their native language rather than being linguistically excluded from important conversations. Their publications maintain rigorous academic standards equivalent to international scholarly presses while serving the specific needs of Central European educational institutions. By publishing works like Hersh's The Nature of Mathematics, Typotex contributes to Hungarian intellectual culture by fostering critical reflection on the foundations and practices of mathematical thought, enriching both mathematical education and philosophical discourse within Hungary and neighboring Hungarian-speaking regions.

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