Mathematics and the Humanities

3 Credits

For more than 3000 years, mathematics has been part of the human quest for knowledge and has helped us to understand the world that surrounds us. From ancient civilizations to our modern societies, mathematical discoveries and applications have constantly shaped the way we comprehend our environment and have given us the methodologies for analyzing and explaining our world. Through the centuries, the reach of mathematics has been extended beyond the physical sciences to practically every area of human endeavor, from industry to philosophy, and from art to politics. This multidisciplinary course explores the humanistic side of mathematics as represented throughout western civilizations and invites students to explore and discover the creative elements that are inherent in it.