Re: [HM] Is Greek mathematics the *real* thing?

Jack Wales (jwales@thacher.org)
Thu, 05 Nov 1998 21:27:55 -0800

The following four questions seem distinct to me. I do not propose any
answer for any of them, nor do I mean to assert that any one of them is
more or less telling or answerable than any other, or that they are the
only legitimate questions, or even the most important ones. I do suggest
that they are quite likely independent of each other, and thus that in the
discussion it might be helpful to recognize each of them and to explicitly
distinguish them from each other.

1. Has the mathematics of Greek descent produced mathematically valuable
or interesting results that other imaginable or existing "cultures of
mathematics" could not produce?

2. Could other imaginable or existing "cultures of mathematics" produce
mathematically valuable or interesting results that the mathematics of
Greek descent can not produce or has not produced?

3. Has the mathematics of Greek descent enabled valuable or interesting
knowledge outside the field of mathematics that other imaginable or
existing "cultures of mathematics" could not enable?

4. Could other imaginable or existing "cultures of mathematics" enable
valuable or interesting knowledge outside the field of mathematics that
the mathematics of Greek descent can not enable or has not enabled?

Jack V. Wales, Jr.
5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, CA 93023

jwales@thacher.org