Re: [HM] historiography of mathematics
Julio Gonzalez Cabillon (jgc@adinet.com.uy)
Fri, 16 Apr 1999 22:09:18 -0300
At 10:59 AM 16/04/1999 +0100, David Fowler wrote:
> ...
>
> Dear Julio,
>
> We did talk about that; your point is that the German edition of
> the book was published in 1962. But the English translation is an
> expanded version, and neither of us has ever seen this German
> original, so didn't know what material had been added. Mathematics?
> What is unusual about Burkert's book is the amount of consideration
> he gives to this topic, which is very unusual for works by classical
> scholars. (I can cite book on Pythagoreanism that do not even use
> the word. Does this tell us something about the classical scholarly
> tradition or about Pythagoreanism?)
>
> Of course, Reviel was in a quandary. If he put 1962, 99% would ask why;
> wasn't the book published in 1972, while, if he put 1972, the 1% like
> Julio would ask why; wasn't the book published in 1962.
> ...
Dear David,
I am pleased to read on page 357 of a new book (in my opinion, a
landmark in modern scholarly literature) the following footnote:
I like Reviel Netz' formulation of Burkert's conclusion:
"Pythagoras the mathematician finally died in 1962!".
Right now I am completely immersed in reading and enjoying this
beautifully printed masterpiece [ISBN 0-19-850258-3].
Very best wishes,
Julio