Finding Teaching Inspiration from Gorgias: Mathematics Lessons from a Sophist

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

von Mehren, Ann L^1¹ 

[1] Bowling Green State University^1

关键词: logos;    beginning;    Gorgias;    Sophist teachers;    fifth-century Athens;   

DOI  :  10.5642/jhummath.201901.18

学科分类：数学（综合）

来源: Claremont Center for the Mathematical Sciences

【 摘 要 】

The logos or rational language of the fifth-century BCE teacher, Gorgias, as contained in the fragment On the Nonexistent, challenges a reader to understand the relationship between the existent and the nonexistent; yet the text also offers an accessible idea of logos. Inspired by William M. Priestley's approach to the study of logos through ratios, and by Ivor Grattan-Guinness's recommendation to broaden the study of historical texts in the history of mathematics and mathematics education, and pursue their significance in a heritage sense, this article suggests that this ancient non-mathematics text by Gorgias may inspire and refresh elementary mathematics educators' teaching of visualization and beginning points.

【 授权许可】

CC BY