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3. Hardy’s deep sigh

Chapter of: Breaking Images: Iconoclastic Analyses of Mathematics and its Education(pp. 61–78)

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Metadata
Title3. Hardy’s deep sigh
ContributorOle Skovsmose(author)
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11647/obp.0407.03
Landing pagehttps://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0407/chapters/10.11647/obp.0407.03
Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
CopyrightOle Skovsmose
PublisherOpen Book Publishers
Published on2024-12-11
Long abstractIn his book A Mathematician’s Apology, Godfrey H. Hardy presents a conception of mathematics according to which real mathematics can be considered harmless and innocent. By ‘real’ mathematics, Hardy has in mind, for instance, advanced number theory. He contrasts real mathematics with different examples of applied mathematics and cases of elementary mathematics. Hardy argues for the thesis of innocence by asserting that the utilitarian value of real mathematics is nil. Real mathematics does not have any useful applications. By assuming a utilitarian perspective on ethics, Hardy can claim that real mathematics operates at a comfortable distance from any ethnical and political controversies. However, number theory, that Hardy considered the epitome of real mathematics, has tremendous applications itself within war technology. Hardy’s explicit justification of the thesis of innocence is simply fallacious. Most ironically, the doctrine of neutrality continues to operate. According to this doctrine, mathematics can be researched and developed while ignoring any kind of ethical and socio-political considerations. The doctrine of neutrality becomes acted out through mathematical research paradigms, dominating the vast majority of university departments in mathematics the world over.
Page rangepp. 61–78
Print length18 pages
LanguageEnglish (Original)
Contributors

Ole Skovsmose

(author)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1528-796X

Ole Skovsmose’s research has addressed landscapes of investigation, dialogue, students’ foreground, inclusive mathematics education, pedagogical imagination, mathematics in action, philosophy of mathematics education, and philosophy of mathematics. He has been professor at Aalborg University, Denmark, but is now associated to State University of São Paulo, Brazil. In 2024, he was awarded the Hans Freudenthal medal.

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