Mathematics & Common Sense: A Case of Creative Tension [Hardcover]

Philip J. Davis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1568812701 | ISBN-13: 978-1568812700 | Publication Date: October 20, 2006

From the Preface: "This book is addressed to all who are curious about the nature of mathematics and its role in society. It is neither a text book nor a specialists' book. It consists of a number of loosely linked essays that may be read independently and for which I have tried to provide a leitmotif by throwing light on the relationship between mathematics and common sense. In these essays I hope to foster a critical attitude towards both the existence of common sense in mathematics and the ambiguous role that it can play."

Editorial Reviews

Review

" “There is hardly an aspect of human existence to which mathematics cannot contribute understanding - though that is not to say that the value of human life can be reduced to a set of equations. ... In bringing some of these crucial issues to a wider audience, Davis has made a valuable contribution to the public understanding of the importance of the subject.” -John Ball, New Scientist, November 2006
Davis is one of a very small group of mathematicians who are interested and able to step outside the community and take a hard look at what mathematics really 'is'. Its uses, misuses, customs, relations with the so-called 'real' world, psychology and deep nature are all grist for his voracious mill."" -David Mumford, Brown University, November 2006
is risky to trust common sense-especially when dealing with mathematics. Convincingly Phil Davis demonstrates this, first by answering a few harmless-sounding 'frequently asked questions' about his discipline and then by skillfully seducing the reader into the curious kernel of the most fascinating of all sciences: Mathematics (sometimes written with a capital M, sometimes with a lowercase m; sometimes pure, sometimes applied; sometimes familiar, sometimes strange, even to experts)."" -Rudolf Taschner, November 2006
on a long experience in mathematics as a researcher, teacher and popularizer, Davis reflects upon the subject from many points of view: not only its development and instruction, but also its overly modest status in society in general."" -Ivor Grattan-Guinness, November 2006
""The individual essays are well-written, often including amusing epigraphs and detailed bibliographies ... [and] quite interesting to read... Often I found that [Davis] articulated quite well opinions that I never knew I had."" -Darren Glass, MAA Reviews, April 2007
""The author provides many creative discussions and examples, varying from simple to more abstract structures of mathematics ... the book can be recommended to all who are interested in mathematics and its nature, beauty, and role in modern society and science."" -EMS, September 2007
""... this book was fun to read, and I recommend at least a perusal to undergraduate math students, graduate students in mathematics, and working mathematicians. Teachers of undergraduate math students should consider assigning certain essays as readings for their students. It gives a healthy view of our subject. "" -The Mathematical Intelligencer , May 2008"

Product Details

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: A K Peters/CRC Press (October 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568812701
• ISBN-13: 978-1568812700
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,236,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Counterintuitive Commonsense, October 15, 2010

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W. A. Carpenter (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mathematics & Common Sense: A Case of Creative Tension (Hardcover)

Professor Davis provides 33 short essays covering the tension between commonsense and the often counterintuitive discoveries of mathematics. I particularly enjoyed his discussions of why counting large numbers is impossible (with interesting implications for elections), the sorites paradox (e.g. how many grains of wheat do you have to have before you have a heap of wheat?), and the virtues of inconsistency. There is also lots of good material here on meta-mathematical issues such as what constitutes reasons, proofs, and solutions.

Davis's clear writing and sense of humor, known to those familiar with his popular books "Thomas Gray: Philosopher Cat" and "The Thread," comes through in these more technical essays as well. My only quibbles with the book are that it would have benefited from a good proof-reading and it confuses Professor James Moriarty, the arch-villain of Sherlock Holmes, with his brother Colonel James Moriarty. Don't let this minor mistake cause you to miss this fine book!