Progression

WkDateTopics and activitiesReadings
11/27Introductions
1/29$\LaTeX$: first contact
202/01Two different(?) numbers
02/03What numbers are fractions...
02/05...what numbers are not?
32/08Numbers vs magnitudes in the time of Pythagoras
2/10CommensurabilityA Light Dance on the Dust of the Ages
2/12Spring Break 1/6
42/15Geometric proofs
2/17Introduction to Logic
2/19Aristotelian logic: categorical propositions
52/22Aristotelian logic: syllogisms
2/24Truth tables
2/26Contrapositives and Modus ponens
63/01Achilles, the Tortoise and Riemann's Rearrangement Theorem
3/03Introduction to Zeno's paradoxesOn Zeno's Paradoxes, by W. C. Salmon
3/05No class
73/08Zeno's paradoxes as a defense of Parmenides
3/10Influence of ParmenidesParmenides, by B. Russell
3/12Mathematical Journeys into Fictional Worlds, by S. Hart Profile of S. Hart
83/15Discussion: fractals, geometry and group theory
3/17Spring Break 3/6
3/19$\LaTeX$ presentations and timeline of final projects
93/22Newton and Leibniz on time, space and motion, INewton's Scholium to the definitions
3/24Newton and Leibniz on time, space and motion, IILeibniz-Clarke correspondence
3/26Newton and Leibniz, wrap up
103/29Library instruction session
3/31Equity, identity and ideology in Mathematics, Iwith A. Moore (Virginia Tech)
4/02Equity, identity and ideology in Mathematics, II
114/05Equity, identity and ideology in Mathematics, III
4/07Spring Break 5/6
4/09Individual meetings
124/12Equity, identity and ideology in Mathematics, IV
4/14Equity, identity and ideology in Mathematics, V
4/16Equity, identity and ideology in Mathematics, VI
134/19Equity, identity and ideology in Mathematics, VII
4/21Equity, identity and ideology in Mathematics, VIII
4/23Equity, identity and ideology in Mathematics, IX
144/26Spring Break 6/6
4/28On the Euler characteristic
4/30Mathematics and natural sciencesMathematics and Empiricism, by John von Neumann
155/03Coxeter and Bourbaki
5/05Sprouts and the Euler characteristic
5/07Mathematics, Platonism and CognitionUseful invention or absolute truth?
Remarks on the Changeux-Connes debate