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.
(To hear the Muslims tell it, Arabs invented everything this side of the wheel.)
Well, the brightest stars all have Arabic names today but if the Library of Alexandria had not burned down, the stars would most likely have Greek names.
Math is cool. Here’s Gauss’ solution to homework assigned to the class as punishment. He was 10 years old.
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ... + 99 + 100 = ?
1 + 100 = 101
2 + 99 = 101
...
49 + 52 = 101
50 + 51 = 101; 50*101 = 5,050.
Solution to an infinite series using Allegra.
S = 1 + 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + ...
S/2 = 1/2 +1/4 +1/8 + ...
S = 1 + S/2; S/2 = 1; S = 2. QED
Apparently "Arabic" numerals were introduced to Europeans by Fibonacci in a book he published in 1202.
Solution to an infinite series using Algebra, auto-correct, sheesh.
S = 1 + 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + ...
S/2 = 1/2 +1/4 +1/8 + ...
S = 1 + S/2; S/2 = 1; S = 2. QED
Our future of collapsed bridges and buildings, etc., designed by the ilk of the "math is racist" folks.
Actually, that’s more like 1984.
.
Imaginary numbers should be banned because imagining is acting white.
Squares and roots should be banned because "fair and square" is a colonial social concept that benefits the rich, and "roots" culturally appropriates blacks.
Powers should be banned because it comes from white privilege.
Inequalities should be banned because all lives matter.
-PJ
So,... 2+2 = _____ in the POC world?
In America 2.0, we celebrate insane stupidity.
The Greek Diophantus was the first to do something sort of recognizable as or algebra. Meaning he used symbols to express mathematical relationships. Prior to that, mathematical relationships were described in words - sentences. His texts dealt with solving algebraic equations. Diophantine equations (”Diophantine geometry”) and Diophantine approximations are important areas of mathematical research. Arabs (such as Musa al-Kharzim) preserved and extended his work.
Read See Amazon link below! (Read this book and you’ll never look at algebra the same way! It’s very very very readable!)
The left is calling “minorities” stupid again.
"Jewish Physics."
Looks like the Nazis are back. Time to treat them like we did the original Nazis.
This simpleton gets paid to say crap like this?
This is one of the dumbest things I’ve read today.
No more engineers or physicists will be hired from this dump.
If you are being chased by three lions and you kill one with your spear, how many are left?
To a great many people, everything is racist.
I guess that’s easier than recognizing one’s own incompetence.
OK...this is simple. Ignore anything from black math majors and select institutions.
Ironically, one group of people who don’t care if racist white guys invented math and science is the Chinese. If it works, they will steal it and use it.
But they have the problem of also wanting to cut corners on everything, so their bridges and buildings will also still probably collapse, just for different reasons!
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