Abstract
It is possible to reflect reasonably with pupils on social behaviour by means of mathematics? Which importance can this subject have for those who learn as well as for society? Within an educational project, and with the help of games like the Prisoners' Dilemma and texts, situations were discussed in which cooperation of all parties involved would show an optimal result but which also have a great appeal to denial for each party involved. Mathematics can help to distance oneself from consternation and also creates the possibility of abstraction and helps to precise possibilities of reflection. After the end of this project the first question can be answered with “yes”.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
(Translations of the titles of the German references are stated in brackets.)
Arnold, R. & Schüßler, I. (1998)Wandel der Lernkulturen. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft. [Changing Learning Cultures]
Axelrod, R. (1984).The Evolution of Cooperation. New York: Basic Books.
Bauer, L. (1990). Mathematikunterricht und Reflexion.Mathematik Lehren 38, 6–9.[Mathematics Classes and Reflection]
Fischer, R. (1993). Perspektiven des Mathematikunterrichts.Zentralblatt für Didaktik der Mathematik 96(2), 42–46.[Perspectives for Mathematics Classes]
Fischer, R. (2006).Mathematik anthropologisch. InMaterialisierung und Organisation—Zur kulturellen Bedeutung von Mathematik (pp 27–59. München: Profil. [Mathematics Anthropological. In: Materialisation and Organisation—To the Cultural Importance of Mathematics]
Fischer, R. & Malle, G. (1985).Mensch und Mathematik. München/Wien: Profil Verlag 2004. (First published in Zürich: Bibliographisches Institut 1985.)[Man and Mathematics]
Harding, G. (1968). The Tragedy of the Commons.Science 162, 1243–1248.
Hofstadter, D.R. (1983).The Prisoner's Dilemma: Computer Tournaments and the Evolution of Cooperation. In: Metamagical Themas: Questing for the Essence of Mind and Pattern (pp. 715–734). New York: Basic Books 1985 (First published in 1983).
Orrison, A. (1997).The Prisoner's Dilemma— Game Theory in the Classroom. California: Saddleback College. Retrieved from http://www.saddleback.cc.ca.us/AP/la/neh/prisoner.htm