I have used What is Mathematics? by R. Courant and H. Robbins to teach
what you would describe as a "threaded" foundations of mathematics
(proofs) course.
Regards,
Elena Marchisotto
On Thu, 27 May 1999, Don Allen wrote:
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> I have taught a graduate course in the History of Mathematics
> many times, and one of my favorite approaches to teaching it
> could be called "threaded." By this I mean, I begin with a
> fundamental topic, like primes or the Euclidean axioms, and trace
> it from ancient times to the present, showing along the thread
> the powerful methods developed for specific purposes.
>
> For example, I can begin with Pythagorean triples and wind up in
> the 20th century with Fermat's Theorem resolved.
>
> Students seem to like this.
>
> I am inquiring if there is a general history of mathematics, in
> print and suitable as a text, written in this style.
>
> Thanks,
> Don Allen
>
> G. Donald Allen
> Department of Mathematics
> Texas A&M University
> College Station, TX 77843-3368
> Phone:(voice) 409/845-7950 Fax 409/845-6028
> e-mail: dallen@math.tamu.edu
> URL: http://www.math.tamu.edu/~dallen/