Subject: Re: [HM] The Universal History of Numbers
From: Ivan Van Laningham (ivanlan@home.com)
Date: Wed Jun 07 2000 - 13:51:02 EDT
Hi All--
Kim Plofker wrote:
>
[snip]
>
> Well, I haven't read the book, so my comments may not be worth much;
> but it seems to me that the relative value of inspiration and accuracy
> will depend largely on the nature of the subject matter. The history
> of numeration is a topic so heavily dependent on the evidence from
> textual traditions that I can't quite see the point of writing a book
> on it that is sloppy about sources. (Mind you, I recognize that it's
> not humanly possible to attain the necessary familiarity with _all_
> the sources relevant to the "universal history of numbers";
Speaking specifically to the section on Mayan numeration, I too
recognize that it is not humanly possible to have read _all_ the sources
in the field. It is possible, however, to have read at least one or two
of the newer important sources in the field. As I recall, Ifrah used
information from Sylvanus Morley's _The Ancient Maya_, and did not refer
to even so dated a source as Thompson's 1970 revision of _Maya
Hieroglyphic Writing_. He did not refer to *any* of Linda Schele's
work, nor to Floyd Lounsbury's. It should have been possible, in the
twenty-two years since the first edition of the book, to have updated
the Mayan section. That revision did not take place. Why then should I
take such a book seriously on any topic covered by the book? Why should
I spend any money on it at all? Entertaining sloppy scholarship is
still sloppy scholarship. Much like computers, which can give you
answers very quickly indeed. Wrong answers very fast, however, are
still wrong answers.
> my reaction to such hugely generalist works tends to be divided
> between sympathy for the author's overwhelming difficulties and
> puzzlement as to why he or she would even attempt such a task.)
>
I had a similar reaction to the tale of the man who committed suicide
using a hand-held power drill.
<took-him-six-or-eight-tries-to-succeed>-ly y'rs
Ivan
----------------------------------------------
Ivan Van Laningham
Axent Technologies, Inc.
http://www.pauahtun.org
http://www.foretec.com/python/workshops/1998-11/proceedings.html
Army Signal Corps: Cu Chi, Class of '70
Author: Teach Yourself Python in 24 Hours
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