with respect to the points presented by Julio, I would like to say that I
believe that the history of mathematics is not of interest because it
tells us what it's "right", but because it *teaches* us that there are
many different ways of thinking about things which we *believe* to be the
same. Studying Newton's and Leibniz's Calculi is of interest because it
shows the extent to which different meanings can be produced for similar
texts.
And I think *this* is what our pupils deserve: to learn diversity, and
that it exists, and its (fruitful) consequences.
Studying Alchemy may be of interest because it shows a whole set of
premises (and not "mistakes") which made it legitimate in given cultures
and times. And to say Astrology is an "error" is to forget what Newton
said to Halley when he mcked Newton's interest. It is a matter of
cultures and times, of positive reading, and not reading of the lacking!
Best wishes from cloudy Bristol/UK
Romulo
Romulo Campos Lins
Depto. de Matematica
Av. 24A, 1515
13506-700 Rio Claro-SP
BRASIL
fone/fax: +55-(0)19-534 0123