An introduction to mathematics
by Alfred North Whitehead · first published 1911
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I have two recommendations that I don't see mentioned by anyone else yet: 1. An Introduction to Mathematics by Alfred North Whitehead, 1911 available at http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41568 It not specifically about history, but I found it nice how it builds up concepts from first principles, e.g. "We had…
on “A Map of Mathematics” ↗In An Introduction to Mathematics (1911) Alfred North Whitehead wrote: By relieving the brain of all unnecessary work, a good notation sets it free to concentrate on more advanced problems, and, in effect, increases the mental power…
on “How did anyone do math in Roman numerals? (2017)” ↗…open-source software, ... , and much of what they enabled? "Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking about them." - Alfred North Whitehead, An Introduction to Mathematics (1911) Getting packed into 2026 airline seats can be a "miserable experience". But that taken-for-granted human flight... a cramped seat in the effin clouds... is what? A century or two of focused effort,…
on “Code-execution flaw in UEFI firmware threatens most servers on planet Earth” ↗…them. Operations of thought are like cavalry charges in a battle — they are strictly limited in number, they require fresh horses, and must only be made at decisive moments." -- Alfred North Whitehead, An Introduction to Mathematics
on “Habitual GPS use negatively impacts spatial memory during self-guided navigation” ↗…them. Operations of thought are like cavalry charges in a battle — they are strictly limited in number, they require fresh horses, and must only be made at decisive moments.” ― Alfred North Whitehead, An Introduction to Mathematics
on “Ask HN: Why is there only one widely accepted syntax for mathematics?” ↗…them. Operations of thought are like cavalry charges in a battle - they are strictly limited in number, they require fresh horses, and must only be made at decisive moments." - Alfred North Whitehead, "An Introduction to Mathematics", pp. 45–46
on “Calculus Made Easy” ↗…them. Operations of thought are like cavalry charges in a battle — they are strictly limited in number, they require fresh horses, and must only be made at decisive moments.” — Alfred North Whitehead, "Introduction to Mathematics" (1911)
on “Mathematics in the 20th century, by Michael Atiyah [pdf] (2002)” ↗"Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking of them." ― Alfred North Whitehead, "An Introduction to Mathematics" (1911)
on “The Mathocalypse” ↗