'The History of the History of Mathematics': research symposium
'The History of the History of Mathematics': research symposium (final announcement)
All Souls College, Oxford
Thursday 16 and Friday 17 December 2010
Mathematical histories have been written since at least the seventeenth century, yet on the whole there has been relatively little reflection on the trajectory which history of mathematics itself has taken over time. Nor has sustained attention often been given to the historiography of a subject which by its nature involves methodological choices and dilemmas different from those of other kinds of history.
This symposium will bring together an international group of leading scholars to consider the history of mathematics as a cultural phenomenon in its own right, and to discuss both where it has come from and where it might go next, with papers both on particular historians and on particular historiographies.
Speakers and topics:
Sabine Rommevaux, 'Studies on Euclid’s Elements and their reception in the Middle Ages'; Jackie Stedall, 'A history of historical approaches to Thomas Harriot (1560–1621)'; Rebekah Higgitt, '"Not a master of expression": biographical treatments of Newton as a mathematician'; Robert Goulding, 'The Mathematical Narratives of Peter Ramus and Henry Savile'; Philip Beeley, 'The progress of Mathematick Learning. John Wallis as historian of mathematics'; Niccolò Guicciardini, 'The quarrel on the invention of the calculus in Jean E. Montucla & Joseph Jérôme L. de Lalande, Histoire des Mathématiques (1758/1799–1802)'; Peter Neumann, 'The editors and editions of the writings of Évariste Galois'; Henrik Kragh Sørensen, 'The use of history of mathematics among Scandinavian mathematicians, 1870–1950'; Jeremy Gray, 'Mathematicians’ histories: reflections on histories of hard mathematics'; Steve Russ, 'The Human Face of Mathematics'.
Organiser:
Benjamin Wardhaugh
A limited number of places are available for observers: these will be allocated on a strictly first-come basis. The cost will be £50, and will cover attendance at the conference sessions, with tea and coffee, and at the conference dinner on 17 December. Unfortunately accommodation cannot be provided for observers.
To reserve a place, or for any enquiries, please contact Benjamin Wardhaugh at:
Dr Benjamin Wardhaugh
All Souls College
Oxford OX1 4AL
UK