US 215 - Truth and Beauty: Mathematics in Lit

Institution:

Arcadia University

Subject:

Description:

(4 credits) Throughout history, mathematics has been an inspiration to poets and writers. Math itself is one of the major expressions of the mysteries, beauty, and truth of our universe, and literature about math enhances this expression. Just as science has led to science fiction (and creative non-fiction), so math has led to something analogous. From "Flatland: A Romance in Many Dimensions" (Edward A. Abbott) to "Adventure of the Final Problem" (a Sherlock Homes adventure by Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle) to the stories of Aldous Huxley, Martin Gradner, Ian McEwan, Greg Egar, and others, to the poetry anthology "Against Infinity" (ed., Jet Foncannon and Marian Robson) to the poetry collection "My Dance Is Mathematics" (JoAnne Growney) and "Crossing the Equal Sign" (Marion Cohen), writings involving math have taken their place among humanity's body of literature. This course will explore some of the mathematical writings through the ages, as well as the math that inspired them. Prerequisites MA100 & EN101

Credits:

4.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.arcadia.edu

Phone Number:

(215) 572-2900

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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