Posted on 04/13/2022 11:30:15 AM PDT by blam
We previously discussed the view of University of Rhode Island and Director of Graduate Studies of History Erik Loomis that “Science, statistics, and technology are all inherently racist.” Others have agreed with that view, including denouncing math as racist or a “tool of whiteness.” Now, as part of its “decolonization” efforts, Durham University is calling on professors in the math department to ask themselves if they’re citing work from “mostly white or male” mathematicians.
According to the Telegraph and The College Fix a guide instructs faculty that “decolonising the mathematical curriculum means considering the cultural origins of the mathematical concepts, focusses, and notation we most commonly use.” It adds:
“[T]he question of whether we have allowed Western mathematicians to dominate in our discipline is no less relevant than whether we have allowed western authors to dominate the field of literature. It may even be more important, if only because mathematics is rather more central to the advancement of science than is literature.”
Some professors have objected to being asked to consider the race or gender of mathematicians rather than their underlying theories or formulas.
In the Telegraph article, Exeter University Social Science Professor Doug Stokes is quoted as saying that “[t]he idea behind decolonising maths is that because everyone should be regarded as equal, the status of their beliefs must also be equal.” He denounces that view as “judgmental relativism is an inversion of science that is based on what is real rather than making everybody feel included.”
But all ideas are not equal, particularly math. Some literally do not add up. Math is inherently objective and based on provable tenets or theories. As I discussed earlier, it is a shame to see math treated as a field of privilege when many of us view it as a field of pure intellectual pursuit and bias neutrality. Either the math is there or it is not. The race of the mathematician will not change the outcome.
The Durham University guide insists that academics need to not only consider what theories to apply but the race of the theoreticians to “decolonize” math. It does not state how a failure to do so will impact on a professor’s retention or advancement at the university.
lol... I can see a whacked out Professor coming up with this gimmick, but for the University itself to come out with it is hysterical...
Isn’t algebra Arabic in origin?
Higher mathematics was developed mostly in Europe by white men. Deal with it.
Triangles are racist! (unless it's a gay love triangle).
-PJ
Do they mean make sure the mathematicians are white?
Best guess is that this “Prof” couldn’t get his publications cited in “Third Grade Advances in Addition”. Sorry, leftist losers, but doing academic battle against real subjects will ‘subject’ you to being labeled ....a typical left wing idiot.
‘Durham University is calling on professors in the math department to ask themselves if they’re citing work from “mostly white or male” mathematicians.’
Racism in action.
Not sure about that. But they tell us repeatedly that the zero number was an Arab invention.
Babylon. But the Greeks took it to the next level.
“Triangles are racist! (unless it’s a gay love triangle).”
Are they abtuse or acute racists?
So we are going to Ebonics in math where 2+2= whatever.
I guess it is racist if a certain segment of the population just can’t get it right
Talk about cultural appropriation!
>>Isn’t algebra Arabic in origin?
Only the name. Diophantus was Greek.
Omigosh, the stupidity coming from these people is mind-boggling.
And their flagrant racism is tiresome.
Good thing too. Otherwise we'd have had to wait until Capt. John Smith met Pocahontas.
How is this going to work for getting more women of color involved in math/science if they would have to culturally appropriate the work of white men?
How does race factor into the equation?
Is there a formula for considering race?
What is the calculus on race inclusion?
others???
By Indians I meant those from the Indian subcontinent not the “native americans” who seem to know math well enough to run successful casinos.
To hear the Muslims tell it, Arabs invented everything this side of the wheel.
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