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Mathematics has a front and a back

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Abstract

It is explained that, in the sense of the sociologist Erving Goffman, mathematics has a front and a back. Four pervasive myths about mathematics are stated. Acceptance of these myths is related to whether one is located in the front or the back.

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References

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  • Goffman, E.: 1959,The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, Doubleday Anchor Books, New York.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Mexico, 87131, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Reuben Hersh

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  1. Reuben Hersh
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Hersh, R. Mathematics has a front and a back. Synthese 88, 127–133 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00567741

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00567741

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