The Math Gene: How Mathematical Thinking Evolved And Why Numbers Are Like Gossip - Hardcover

Devlin, Keith

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0465016189 ISBN 13: 9780465016181

Publisher: Basic Books, 2000

Synopsis

If people are endowed with a "number instinct" similar to the "language instinct"—as recent research suggests—then why can't everyone do math? In The Math Gene, mathematician and popular writer Keith Devlin attacks both sides of this question.Devlin offers a breathtakingly new theory of language development that describes how language evolved in two stages and how its main purpose was not communication. Devlin goes on to show that the ability to think mathematically arose out of the same symbol-manipulating ability that was so crucial to the very first emergence of true language.Why, then, can't we do math as well as we speak? The answer, says Devlin, is that we can and do—we just don't recognize when we're using mathematical reasoning.

About this title

Review

For many, the mere word "mathematics" is enough to conjure up memories of incomprehension at school, and fear and loathing ever afterwards. Countless otherwise well-educated people see mathematics as the skeleton in their intellectual cupboard--the one key subject demanding a talent that they so obviously did not possess.

Or so it seems to anyone who has felt very much on the outside of the subject. British mathematician Keith Devlin is certainly on the inside--and in The Maths Gene he has wonderful news for everyone: we can all join him there. For Devlin argues that we all possess the ability to cope with mathematics, if only we recognise what's required. While a number of recent books, notably Stanislas Dehaene's The Number Sense, have focused on numerical ability, the scope of Devlin's book is much larger. He examines the evidence that we all possess, if not literally a gene, then at least an inherent ability not just for arithmetic but for real mathematics: algebra, calculus and the rest. Devlin even puts forward a Darwinian explanation for the origin of this ability, based on the idea that being able to handle abstract ideas and relationships confers key evolutionary advantages. Mathematics merely involves a relatively high level of abstraction--but one we can all cope with, if we work at it: "Doing mathematics is very much like running a marathon", says Devlin. "It does not require any special talent, and 'finishing' is largely a matter of wanting to succeed". In its wealth of wonderful examples supporting the central argument, The Maths Gene bears comparison with Steve Pinker's The Language Instinct and its plain common sense about this most misunderstood of subjects is truly inspirational. Thoroughly recommended for anyone seeking to rid their intellectual cupboard of the skeleton of mathematical "incompetence". --Robert Matthews

Book Description

The Maths Gene explains how the human mind came to ¿ and continues to ¿ perform mathematical reasoning.

Edition details

• Publisher: Basic Books
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0465016189
• ISBN 13: 9780465016181
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352