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Around the World in 80 mathematics Ubiratan D'Ambrosio - a professor of mathematics at the University of Campinas in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The ethnomathematiques were born of the desire to deepen ties math with reality, such links qu'apprehendes by men. For what is surprising at first glance is that mathematics is almost as old as the human species. The first humans had to solve everyday problems, for example to detect in time and space, but also seek to describe and explain the physical world.
Summary
Around the World in 80 mathematics, p1
The historical control, p1
Reunion beneficial, p1
Mathematics and anthropology, p1
Around the World in 80 mathematics
Ubiratan D'Ambrosio - a professor of mathematics at the University of Campinas in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The ethnomathématiques were born of the desire to deepen ties math with reality, To pursue this quest, men have developed new ways to get the kind they need for their survival and, later, their approval: they, among other things, invented the comparison, classification, 'Order, measurement, numeration, reasoning, the deduction… the basic elements of what the Western cultural tradition called mathematics. How do these formidable means of investigation have developed? The first elements of response show a parallel between their emergence and that of language, tools, art, music and even humor. Since prehistoric times (see the article by Dirk Huylebrouck), humans have accumulated knowledge to meet their needs and desires. The answers depend in large part of regions and cultures. At the end of the fifteenth century and during the sixteenth century, European nations, Spain and Portugal in mind, and soon followed by Holland, England and France, have conquered almost all territories of the planet and have established colonies in the world. The colonial regime helping the local production and marketing were aligned with the European model. At the same time, specific intellectual conquered peoples were in most cases ignored, sometimes prohibited.
The historical control
In this way disappeared, or faillirent disappearing, traditional modes of measurement, organization and quantification of sets of objects, the same way as languages, religions, medicine and many other cultural expressions. In South America, techniques of numeration of the Incas (see article Loïc Mangin page 22) and arithmetic Maya (see articles by André Cauty) did not survive the Spanish conquest. By the same token, many traditions mathematics - Nunavut, the Inuit land (see the article by Eric Vandendriessche), sub-Saharan Africa (see article Paulus Gerdes) - have disappeared during the twentieth century or are going to evaporate. The end of the colonial era was marked by the revival of cultures ignored for centuries and we have witnessed in recent years an explosion of new forms of art, caring practices, religions and customs.he denial of the other, leading to a feature of Western culture: "we and others." This dichotomy materializes in a warfare that has become the most developed of science and mathematics.
The reunion salutary
The cultural centrism does not leave much room abroad, to another. Of course, the other does not, at least not fully, knowledge and behaviour and, in many cases, the same values. This cultural distinction is particularly marked in mathematics. Also, find the traditional math of lost civilizations or peoples marginalized on the big chessboard of globalization is deepening the understanding of mathematics in the broadest sense. The mathematics are not born with a primitive state that would have changed uniformly to Western mathematics. According to this view "European", a mathematical system that develops in a culture outside the mainstream, is best seen as something intriguing, or as a branch of folklore that exists elsewhere. Several stories mathematics are based on archaeological and anthropological discoveries.
Mathematics and anthropology
The history of mathematics has demonstrated bias by failing to recognize that a new ethnomathematique was the preliminary stage which passed by the new practices and theories before being incorporated by the scientific institution. The same is true for ethnomathematiques. Yes, they are an expression of political correctness. However, if this is going too far to propose a teaching practice which aims to eliminate aggressiveness, arrogance, intolerance, discrimination, injustice, bigotry and hatred, what indeed? Moreover, in terms of education, all forms of knowledge, and mathematical ethnomathematique including, have their limits. Thus it is natural to look for new instruments of communication and analysis. That is why the history of mathematics and ethnomathematique must be met. Because mathematics belong to all classes and all cultural contexts, they are imbued with human civilization in its plurality.
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