Mathematics and the Search for Knowledge [Hardcover]

Morris Kline (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 18, 1985 | ISBN-10: 019503533X | ISBN-13: 978-0195035339

Morris Kline is that rare scientist with the ability to convey the complexity and richness of his specialty in terms the general reader can appreciate. In this book, he provides a provocative and lucid account of how mathematics has been used as a powerful instrument in our exploration of the physical world. Kline probes the world of mathematics from the days of the Greeks to the present day, illuminating the inner workings of the science that enables us to penetrate the secrets of our world's natural phenomena

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Requires a minimum of technical knowledge and gives an illuminating oversight of the historical developments...with many interesting observations along the way."--Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society

"The lively writing makes this suitable supplementary reading for advanced undergraduates from many disciplines. An extensive and often technical bibliography is included for those who want to go further."--Zentralbl�tter/Abstract Journals

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Morris Kline is at New York University (Emeritus). --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (July 18, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 019503533X
• ISBN-13: 978-0195035339
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,715,246 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, esp. for non-mathematicians (like me!), November 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mathematics and the Search for Knowledge (Hardcover)

Morris Kline's thesis in this extraordinary book is stated clearly in the final words of his preface, and then presented through a historical survey throughout. Here are the key words, "Contrary to the impression students acquire in school, mathematics is not just a series of techniques. Mathematics tells us what we have never known or even suspected about notable phenomena and in some instances even contradicts perception. It is the essence of our knowledge of the physical world. It not only transcends perception but outclasses it."

As far as I'm concerned, Kline makes his case. And I am one of those who received the erroneous impression in school that he mentions -- of course, I never managed to pay much attention in math classes, but that was only partially my fault.

If you are at all like me, and suspect you might have missed something in your misspent youth, get this book.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fine introduction, but..., December 18, 2004

By 

D. Hanselman "philosophy student" (Finger Lakes, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mathematics and the Search for Knowledge (Paperback)

This is a good, basic introduction to the history of math, but its promise of engaging philosophical issues falls short. It's not until Chapter XII that Kline really engages the philsophy of mathematics, but then attempts to cover a lot of ground in a short span, and the distinctions and groupings Kline forms of different thinkers' conceptions of mathematics leads to strange bedfellows; particularly Kline's claim that Wittgenstein is basically a mathematical empiricist and yet believes that mathematics is a human creation. To my mind there's an inherent contradiction there. Most bothersome, however is the almost entire lack of proper footnotes. Some of the most interesting quotes will be difficult (if not impossible) to find b/c Kline only tells us the author of the quote and oftentimes doesn't even include the author in the bibliography! In particular I'm thinking of a fascinating quote from Evariste Galois - Kline gives no indication of where I can find it! Still, I have to give this book a 4 just b/c it's a good introduction that reads rather quickly.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great "Philosophy of Science" book, September 12, 2005

By 

J. E. Meyer (Newark, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mathematics and the Search for Knowledge (Paperback)

This is by far one of the best science books for the layman I have ever read, and I enjoyed reading it. I especially liked the discussions of the cultural context inwhich Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton worked. The break that Copernicus made with common sense AND religous dogma is so great as to boggle the mind even today. And Kepler's determination that the Earth's orbit is an ellipse, again defies belief, since it was done before calculus was invented, or the law of Gravity determined.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good science read.