I will try to elaborate somewhat although I am only giving my thoughts
and impressions. I find it interesting that you mention seeing no
historical content whatsoever. You are quite posssibly correct although I
must admit having thought about adding a slight postscript to this
forwarded request which roughly said that I thought perhaps some possible
essays of the sort being asked for might lie somewhat near the intersection
of the work done in the history of mathematics and the philosophy of
mathematics (actually I thought I had added it, but perhaps I left it off
thinking that it would be interesting to see what responses I received).
Why did I think that? First in both these areas *serious writing* is
done, at least in my opinion, on mathematics which, if one is to believe
Louis Mink (the view of a historian about the writing of history), for a
"potentially universal audience." Secondly, I have found previously that an
interesting piece on number with perhaps a historical flavor (although
perhaps not an appropriate one in this instance), again from my point of
view, was the Introductio Arithmetica of Nicomachus. And thirdly it seemed
that if anything was especially well-written on number in the present or in
the past, members of this group were likely to know. Finally, I admit to
thinking that some historical perspective on number should be part of the
basis of this essay.
What was actually requested? After discussing the received messages
briefly with my colleague, it was clear that suggestions from this group
together with some other thoughts of mine and suggestions from others still
were all gratefully received. So my impression is that a historical
perspective on number will be factored in. Perhaps it would be useful if I
noted that when this person says well-written she means scholarly, and the
word educated is also used in its *strong* sense. It, of course, remains to
be seen how successful she is in getting some capable research
mathematicans to convey their thoughts about number in a substantial yet
somewhat symbol free and readable manner. Some models from the past and
present would seem to be most welcome.
Hopefully this clarifies things somewhat
Ed Wall
At 3:13 PM -0300 6/2/99, Julio Gonzalez Cabillon wrote:
>At 10:09 PM 27/05/1999 -0400, Ed Wall <ewall@umich.edu> wrote:
>>
>> I was asked the following question by a colleague:
>>
>> ******
>> Do you know of any very good essays or other treatments of domain of number
>> (e.g., the major objects , operations, etc, of the whole, integer,
>> rational, and real number systems) that would be serious and yet accessible?
>> I'd like help in assembling a small number of very good pieces that
>> would serve as a resource for a group of mathematicians with whom I am
>> working to write an essay on number. In part, I want them to see some
>> other people's takes on this domain, and in part, I also want them to see
>> what examples of serious writing that is accessible to an educated, but not
>> mathematically trained, reader might look like.
>> ******
>>
>
>Dear Ed,
>
>Please, excuse my lack of understanding of what is being asked for above.
>Whereas I see no historical content whatsoever I would much appreciate to
>grasp what precisely your colleague is looking for. Would you be kind
>enough as to elaborate a bit on this issue?
>
>Many thanks.
>
>Regards, JGC