The Mathematics of the Gods and the Algorithms of Men

Name: The Mathematics of the Gods and the Algorithms of Men
Brand: Penguin Random House NZ
SKU: 9780141986487
Price: 24.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

A Cultural History

By Paolo Zellini

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3.14

( 218 ratings, 33 reviews)

Summary

In The Mathematics of the Gods and the Algorithms of Men, Paolo Zellini delves into the historical evolution of mathematical ideas, exploring their philosophical implications across different eras. He examines how mathematics has served as a bridge between the finite and the infinite, blending history, philosophy, and science. Zellini reflects on the mysterious link between numbers and the divine, offering an insightful examination of humanity's attempts to understand the universe through mathematics.
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Format: Paperback / softback

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The Mathematics of the Gods and the Algorithms of Men

$24⁰⁰

Elsewhere:

~~$26⁰⁰~~

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the intersection of mathematics, philosophy, and history. It weaves compelling narratives about how mathematical ideas have influenced human thought through the ages, blending intellectual exploration with cultural insights. Ideal for those who appreciate deep dives into the fundamental concepts shaping our understanding of the world.

The Mathematics of the Gods and the Algorithms of Men

Description

Is mathematics a discovery or an invention? Do numbers truly exist? What sort of reality do formulas describe?

The complexity of mathematics - its abstract rules and obscure symbols - can seem very distant from the everyday. There are those things that are real and present, it is supposed, and then there are mathematical concepts - creations of our mind, mysterious tools for those unengaged with the world. Yet, from its most remote history and deepest purpose, mathematics has served not just as a way to understand and order, but also as a foundation for the reality it describes.

In this elegant book, mathematician and philosopher Paolo Zellini offers a brief cultural and intellectual history of mathematics, ranging widely from the paradoxes of ancient Greece to the sacred altars of India, from Mesopotamian calculus to our own contemporary obsession with algorithms. Masterful and illuminating, The Mathematics of the Gods and the Algorithms of Men transforms our understanding of mathematical thinking, showing that it is inextricably linked with the philosophical and the religious as well as the mundane - and, indeed, with our own very human experience of the universe.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The book explores the intertwining of mathematics, philosophy, and human thought, delivering insightful and thought-provoking perspectives. Critics find it stimulating, noting its ability to provoke deeper inquiry and contemplation, which is deemed a strength of the work.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141986487

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 June 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 189g

Pages: 256

Collections

Education & Reference History & Military Non-Fiction Paolo Zellini Penguin Books Science & Nature

About the Author

Paolo Zellini is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Rome where his research focuses on numerical analysis and the evolution of mathematical thought. He is the author of the international bestseller A Brief History of Infinity which Italo Calvino described as 'one of the most important books of the twentieth or twenty-first centuries'.