Mathematics in Portugal, a matter of education
No. 27 MAY 2012
What is mathematics and why did Portugal never produce a single great mathematician, like Newton, Euler and Gauss? Conventionally, more or less circumstantial reasons are given for this fact. The author argues that the fundamental reason lies in education. Focusing on three particularly important historical moments for maths in Portugal, it breaks down several preconceived ideas around it, concluding that the essential reason for our mathematical and scientific irrelevance must be found in a history of enormous weaknesses in science teaching in Portugal compared to more developed countries.
What is mathematics and why did Portugal never produce a single great mathematician, like Newton, Euler and Gauss? Conventionally, more or less circumstantial reasons are given for this fact. The author argues that the fundamental reason lies in education. Focusing on three particularly important historical moments for maths in Portugal, it breaks down several preconceived ideas around it, concluding that the essential reason for our mathematical and scientific irrelevance must be found in a history of enormous weaknesses in science teaching in Portugal compared to more developed countries.
More details
Dimensions
12 × 137 × 208 mm
ISBN
978-989-8424-54-9
Book available only in Portuguese
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