The first thing that surprised me was the etymology of the word algorithm. The modern use of the word is so heavily tied to computational mathematics that its origin is hard to believe: a poor translation of al-Khwarizmi’s Algorithmi de numero indorum leading to the misattribution of the Indian number system to al-Khwarizmi, where “algorithm, or later, algorithm” came to refer to any scheme using Indian numerals (Joseph, 1991, p. 11). I find this to be a particularly interesting case in archaeolinguistics due to the technical nature of math and the importance of definitions in modern mathematics.
As a non-European, I am aware of the eurocentric bias of historical narratives. However, in my ignorance, I have rarely been critical enough to look past the eurocentric lens. I was delightfully surprised by including Arab contributions to science contrasted with an incorrectly attributed European counterpart (Joseph, 1991, p. 7). There are high levels of reverence in the western scientific canon for Darwin’s groundbreaking ideas on evolution and Newton’s discussion on gravity, both of which can be traced back to ibn Miskawayh and al-Khazin, respectively. The recognition of these facts has provided a strong motivating force for me to continue educating myself on other scholars' contributions to math and science.
The third thing I found surprising is the general disregard for math and scientific advancements made during the European dark ages by the Arab world (Joseph, 1991, p. 1-22). I found this to be increasingly jarring to read as the chapter progressed. It is such a clear example of the erasure of non-European history, and it made me think about how my high school is still using the same dated textbooks that I used, and how teachers are continuing to reinforce, in students, the ideas of European supremacy. I think math is often considered an objective discipline of study, but reading this chapter has so clearly revealed that it is not.
References
Joseph, G.G. (1991). The History of Mathematics: Alternative Perspectives. The Crest of the Peacock: The Non-European Roots of Mathematics (Third Edition, pp. 1-22). Princeton University Press.
Alan, Thank you for sharing this thoughtful reflection. It can be quite eye-opening and maddening to learn about the taken for granted Eurocentric histories of mathematics embedded in our education system here in BC. I appreciate that you are also recognizing how terminology, like algorithms and Dark Ages, become a part of mythologies that empower certain groups of people.
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