The Legacy of Landmark Writings in Mathematics

July 29 ---August 1, 2023

Yan’an, China

The First Circular

Organized by

Institute for Advanced Studies in History of Science, Northwest University

In Association with

School of Mathematics and Computer Science, Yan’an University

Professional Committee on the History of Exact Sciences

More than most other subjects, books have played a more fundamental and lasting role in mathematics. Of course, the most famous example is Euclid's Elements. But there are also other more recent writings such as books by Gauss and Euler, which have greatly influenced the development of mathematics. They are of permanent value and are still being studied and will also be valued by many generations of mathematicians in the coming years.

Reading the writings by great mathematicians is one concrete way, or rather the key, to follow the famous advice of Abel: “By studying the masters and not their pupils.” But reading the original writings of the masters is not easy. Besides the difficulty with foreign languages, the mathematics culture and the meaning of mathematical terminologies have changed.

We need suitable and high quality translations and extensive commentaries which can put such great writings into the big spacetime of mathematics: across the time and subjects of mathematics, so that we can understand their origin and impacts. This perspective is especially dear or clear to the Chinese readers, given the extensive commentaries on the classical writings such as Lunyu（论语） by Confucius.

Of course, there are many commentaries on the Bible in the West as well. Historical understanding of masters themselves can also enrich our understanding of their works. For example, everyone knows Gauss and Galois in some ways, but there are more. For example, Gauss's touching description of his first wife and Galois's judgement of mathematics and mathematicians expressed in his testamentary letter written on the night before the fatal duel can make people understand better why they became who they are in the history of mathematics. Therefore, historical description and understanding of the classical writings is an essential part of the writings.

In view of the above consideration, we are launching a project of translating and commenting on landmark writings in mathematics with an active participation of a group of young historians and collaboration with some distinguished mathematicians.

学术委员会：

邓明立，河北师范大学

郭世荣，内蒙古师范大学

季理真，美国密歇根大学

纪志刚，上海交通大学

李文林，中国科学院数学与系统科学研究院

曲安京，西北大学

任辛喜，山西师范大学

王昌，西北大学

王青建，辽宁师范大学

王淑红，河北师范大学

王涛，中国科学院自然科学史研究所

徐传胜，临沂大学

张红，四川师范大学

赵继伟，西北大学

组织委员会：

郭婵婵，延安大学

李钰，延安大学

刘翼，延安大学

马乐荣，延安大学

王文发，延安大学

杨保强，延安大学

邀请报告人：

郭婵婵，延安大学

贾随军，浙江外国语大学

江南，西安石油大学

刘茜，西北大学

刘宇辉，河北地质大学

曾仙赐，广西民族大学

张艺林，陕西学前师范学院

赵继伟，西北大学

日程安排：

报名日期及相关费用：

报名截止日期：2023年7月15日

会议不收取注册费，食宿、往返交通费自理。

会议联系人: 郭婵婵，延安大学，yaugcc@foxmail.com

欢迎具有数学、数学史相关学科背景的在读博士或硕士研究生、在站博士后、国内外学术机构相关领域的学者参加!