First-Year Writing Seminar (105-8-51)
Topic
The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics
Instructors
Bradley Paul Zykoski
Meeting Info
Lunt Hall 103: Mon, Wed, Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM
Overview of class
Title: The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics
Course Description: Of the various behaviors human beings engage in, doing mathematics is one of the strangest. With only a pencil and paper, we can predict when a falling object will land, compute the likelihood of a royal flush in poker, and discover facts like the Pythagorean Theorem that never become outdated. We talk about objects like "numbers" and "functions" that cannot be seen, heard, or felt, and yet are essential to our understanding of the natural world. The concept of infinity becomes, rather than an object of mystical wonderment, a tool for doing calculus.
How is any of this possible? In this course, we will discuss the relationship between mathematics, knowledge, and nature. We will ask questions like "What is a number, really?" and "Can we know infinitely many things?" We will read a wide variety of texts, from Plato's "Meno" to Wigner's "The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences." These topics will be the whetstone on which we hone our skills of technical writing, persuasive writing, and even creative writing.
It is not necessary to have any background in college-level mathematics in order to engage with these topics; this course has no math courses as prerequisites. If anything I have discussed here animates your curiosity, I would be delighted to see you in this course!
Class Materials (Required)
No textbook required.
Class Materials (Suggested)
No suggested materials.
Class Attributes
WCAS Writing Seminar