Book Review 1

What is Mathematics, Really?

               The book was entitled "What is Mathematics Really" by Reuben Hersh. It contains not a story of Math but a description about the nature of mathematics. It usually includes the philosophy of mathematics; Platonism, Formalism and Constructivism and it's concepts.

               The book was properly organize and it contained almost all the information about mathematics. In the part one of the book, the contents surprise me a lot because it was an exercise in "Polya's Heuristic". The problem talks about the 4th CUBE.  It was been explained well on how to find the solution. Hersh, systematically shows the process which will make you feel like listening to class discussion.

               Hersh, then explain the idea of Platonism in which he rejected it as an philosophy of mathematics fo some reasons. He then gave his opinion on Formalism but this time he got serious rejection on  it. Hersh got a different idea of mathematical idea on real life that he argued in these philosophies. He offers another point of view, the Socio-historical or Humanism and declare that there is no need to look for a hidden meaning or definition of mathematics beyond its Socio-historic cultural meaning". He became more open to his ideas which came to be true than the ideas before him. As he explains his side, he recall the exercise about the 4th CUBE and connects it to philosophy.

                As you will read the book, you will feel like you are in the argument and feels like traveling in the mathematical world of philosophies. As the argument continue, you will arrive at the existence of the Infinite Objects. Even though some of Hersh opinions are unsatisfactory, he still points out situations that appear to be right. Informative! is what I describe this book. It doesn't just contains philosophy but also the application of math in computers which added to my interest. I didn't expect that this book also contains Theology. It suddenly appears in the Part two of the book. I'm absolutely bothered by some mathematicians and scientist who doesn't believe in the existence of God but that was already their belief. The book is typically long. As I read it and read far enough, I got lost in the topic and experiencing a hard time understanding what I'm reading.