Language in Change : how we changed the language of mathematics and how the language of mathematics changed us
2012
Abstract
Mathematics is usually understood as the language of science. It is seen as a tool by means of which disciplines like physics or economics reach their exactness.
We are therefore not paying attention to the fact that mathematics itself has a linguistic dimension: the same mathematical content can be expressed in different ways. In the course of the history of mathematics we witness a gradual increase of logical power, expressive power, methodical power, integrative power, explanatory power, and metaphorical power of the language of mathematics.
In order to obtain a better understanding of these changes we will analyze, how these aspects of the language of mathematics are constituted.