The discipline of mathematics has not been spared the sweeping critique of postmodernism. Is mathematical theory true for all time, or are mathematical constructs in fact fallible? This fascinating book examines the tensions that have arisen between modern and postmodern views of mathematics, explores alternative theories of mathematical truth, explains why the issues are important, and shows how a Christian perspective makes a difference. Contributors: W. James Bradley William Dembski Russell W. Howell Calvin Jongsma David Klanderman Christopher Menzel Glen VanBrummelen Scott VanderStoep Michael Veatch Paul Zwier
Coyne examines the entire range of contemporary philosophicalthinking—including logical positivism, analytic philosophy, pragmatism, phenomenology,critical theory, hermeneutics, and deconstruction—comparing them and showing how theydiffer in their consequences for design and development issues in electronic communications,computer representation, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and multimedia.
This is a charming and insightful contribution to an understanding of the "Science Wars" between postmodernist humanism and science, driving toward a resolution of the mutual misunderstanding that has driven the controversy. It traces the root of postmodern theory to a debate on the foundations of mathematics early in the 20th century, then compares developments in mathematics to what took place in the arts and humanities, discussing issues as diverse as literary theory, arts, and artificial intelligence. This is a straightforward, easily understood presentation of what can be difficult theoretical concepts It demonstrates that a pattern of misreading mathematics can be seen both on the part of science and on the part of postmodern thinking. This is a humorous, playful yet deeply serious look at the intellectual foundations of mathematics for those in the humanities and the perfect critical introduction to the bases of modernism and postmodernism for those in the sciences.
This book is a history, analysis, and criticism of what the author calls OC postmodern interpretations of scienceOCO (PIS) and the closely related OC sociology of scientific knowledgeOCO (SSK). This movement traces its origin to Thomas Kuhn''s revolutionary work, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962), but is more extreme. It believes that science is a OC social constructionOCO, having little to do with nature, and is determined by contextual forces such as the race, class, gender of the scientist, laboratory politics, or the needs of the military industrial complex.
This timely and accessible book presents a challenge to accepted wisdoms about both the nature of mathematics and of education. The authors of this groundbreaking volume bring to bear on this intersection a postmodern sensibility that engages with the grand narratives of mathematics education. Thus they provide a key resource for rethinking theory and practice in mathematics education. Each of the chapters develops important insights for mathematics education from mainly French intellectuals of the past: Foucault, Lacan, Lyotard, Deleuze. Each chapter addresses issues relevant to mathematics education, researching and teaching mathematics.
Advanced algebra in the service of contemporary mathematicalresearch-- a unique introduction. This volume takes an altogether new approach to advanced algebra.Its intriguing title, inspired by the term postmodernism, denotes adeparture from van der Waerden's Modern Algebra--a book that hasdominated the field for nearly seventy years. Post-Modern Algebraoffers a truly up-to-date alternative to the standard approach,explaining topics from an applications-based perspective ratherthan by abstract principles alone. The book broadens the field ofstudy to include algebraic structures and methods used in currentand emerging mathematical research, and describes the powerful yetsubtle techniques of universal algebra and category theory.Classical algebraic areas of groups, rings, fields, and vectorspaces are bolstered by such topics as ordered sets, monoids,monoid actions, quasigroups, loops, lattices, Boolean algebras,categories, and Heyting algebras. The text features: * A clear and concise treatment at an introductory level, tested inuniversity courses. * A wealth of exercises illustrating concepts and their practicalapplication. * Effective techniques for solving research problems in the realworld. * Flexibility of presentation, making it easy to tailor material tospecific needs. * Help with elementary proofs and algebraic notations for studentsof varying abilities. Post-Modern Algebra is an excellent primary or supplementary textfor graduate-level algebra courses. It is also an extremely usefulresource for professionals and researchers in many areas who musttackle abstract, linear, or universal algebra in the course oftheir work.
What is the title of this book intended to signify, what connotations is the adjective "Postmodern" meant to carry? A potential reader will surely pose this question. To answer it, I should describe what distinguishes the approach to analysis presented here from what has been called "Modern Analysis" by its protagonists. "Modern Analysis" as represented in the works of the Bour baki group or in the textbooks by Jean Dieudonne is characterized by its systematic and axiomatic treatment and by its drive towards a high level of abstraction. Given the tendency of many prior treatises on analysis to degen erate into a collection of rather unconnected tricks to solve special problems, this definitively represented a healthy achievement. In any case, for the de velopment of a consistent and powerful mathematical theory, it seems to be necessary to concentrate solelyon the internal problems and structures and to neglect the relations to other fields of scientific, even of mathematical study for a certain while. Almost complete isolation may be required to reach the level of intellectual elegance and perfection that only a good mathematical theory can acquire. However, once this level has been reached, it might be useful to open one's eyes again to the inspiration coming from concrete ex ternal problems.
In 1996 physicist Alan Sokal published an essay in Social Text--an influential academic journal of cultural studies--touting the deep similarities between quantum gravitational theory and postmodern philosophy. Soon thereafter, the essay was revealed as a brilliant parody, a catalog of nonsense written in the cutting-edge but impenetrable lingo of postmodern theorists. The event sparked a furious debate in academic circles and made the headlines of newspapers in the U.S. and abroad. In Fashionable Nonsense: Postmodern Intellectuals' Abuse of Science, Sokal and his fellow physicist Jean Bricmont expand from where the hoax left off. In a delightfully witty and clear voice, the two thoughtfully and thoroughly dismantle the pseudo-scientific writings of some of the most fashionable French and American intellectuals. More generally, they challenge the widespread notion that scientific theories are mere "narrations" or social constructions.
J. Richard Middleton and Brian J. Walsh offer an introduction, evaluation and response to postmodern culture that comes straight from the heart of the gospel.
