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  • © 2010

Explanation and Proof in Mathematics

Philosophical and Educational Perspectives

  • Directs attention of educational researchers to newest developments in the philosophy and practice of mathematics and their relevance
  • Critically examines recent literature in the philosophy of mathematics on mathematicians’ methods for devising and judging proof
  • Creates a much needed bridge between the discipline of philosophy of mathematics and mathematics education
  • Demonstrates that mathematical practice has lessons for instructional practice
  • Stresses the relevance of pragmatic dimensions of mathematics for current philosophy of mathematics
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (17 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-viii
  2. Reflections on the Nature and Teaching of Proof

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 16-16
    2. Introduction

      • Gila Hanna, Hans Niels Jahnke, Helmut Pulte
      Pages 1-13
    3. Completions, Constructions, and Corollaries

      • Thomas Mormann
      Pages 59-70
    4. Proofs as Bearers of Mathematical Knowledge

      • Gila Hanna, Ed Barbeau
      Pages 85-100
  3. Proof and Cognitive Development

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 114-114
    2. The Long-Term Cognitive Development of Reasoning and Proof

      • David Tall, Juan Pablo Mejia-Ramos
      Pages 137-149
    3. Historical Artefacts, Semiotic Mediation and Teaching Proof

      • Maria G. Bartolini Bussi
      Pages 151-167
    4. Proofs, Semiotics and Artefacts of Information Technologies

      • Maria Alessandra Mariotti
      Pages 169-188
  4. Experiments, Diagrams and Proofs

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 190-190
    2. Proof as Experiment in Wittgenstein

      • Alfred Nordmann
      Pages 191-204
    3. Experimentation and Proof in Mathematics

      • Michael de Villiers
      Pages 205-221

About this book

In the four decades since Imre Lakatos declared mathematics a "quasi-empirical science," increasing attention has been paid to the process of proof and argumentation in the field -- a development paralleled by the rise of computer technology and the mounting interest in the logical underpinnings of mathematics.  Explanantion and Proof in Mathematics assembles perspectives from mathematics education and from the philosophy and history of mathematics to strengthen mutual awareness and share recent findings and advances in their interrelated fields.  With examples ranging from the geometrists of the 17th century and ancient Chinese algorithms to cognitive psychology and current educational practice, contributors explore the role of refutation in generating proofs, the varied links between experiment and deduction, the use of diagrammatic thinking in addition to pure logic, and the uses of proof in mathematics education (including a critique of "authoritative" versus "authoritarian" teaching styles).

A sampling of the coverage:

  • The conjoint origins of proof and theoretical physics in ancient Greece.
  • Proof as bearers of mathematical knowledge.
  • Bridging knowing and proving in mathematical reasoning.
  • The role of mathematics in long-term cognitive development of reasoning.
  • Proof as experiment in the work of Wittgenstein.
  • Relationships between mathematical proof, problem-solving, and explanation.

Explanation and Proof in Mathematics is certain to attract a wide range of readers, including mathematicians, mathematics education professionals, researchers, students, and philosophers and historians of mathematics.

Reviews

From the reviews:

“The origin of this book is the conference Explanation and Proof in Mathematics: Philosophical and Educational Perspectives (Essen, 2006) and it reflects different views from three fields: mathematics educators, philosophy of mathematics and history of mathematics. … The authors and editors made a fine job providing a useful resource for all interested in proofs and proving in mathematical education.”­­­ (Claudi Alsina, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1196, 2010)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Ontario Institute for Studies in, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Gila Hanna

  • FB Mathematik, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

    Hans Niels Jahnke

  • Inst. Philosophie, Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany

    Helmut Pulte

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access