[HM] Burning Mathematicians
Robert Tragesser (RTragesser@compuserve.com)
Thu, 5 Nov 1998 05:41:38 -0500
I am interested in tracking lines of thought that are _very very
hard_ on mathematics and mathematicians. There is for example the
well-known longish essay by the 19th Century Scottish philosopher
William Hamilton arguing that mathematics should altogether be kept out
of the University. I am aware of the late medieval "Humanist"
literature inveighing against mathematics (Petrarch, etc.).
Some years ago when I was studying up on John Dee, a came upon
some studies of the burning of mathematics texts (and mathematicians?)
in Cambridge in the 16th century, did not follow up on them at the time
and cannot locate this material now. Does anyone know the when, why,
and how of this?
Ft.nt.: In looking up John Dee's preface to the first English
"translation" of Euclid (the Billingsly edition, if memory serves?), I
chanced upon a copy in the Beinecke Library at Yale. If HMers have not
seen this work and have access to a copy, a strongly recommend looking
at it. It is an amazingly beautiful work, and more an elaboration than
a translation of the Euclid we know. What is especially wonmderful and
surprising is that it contains "pop'out" (3-D) constructions!
Sincerely,
Robert Tragesser
West(Running)Brook, Connecticut USA