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Article ID: CBB000740738

Ancient Rhetoric and Greek Mathematics: A Response to a Modern Historiographical Dilemma (2003)

Bernard, Alain (Author)

Science in Context
Volume: 16
Pages: 391--412

DOI: 10.1017/S0269889703000863

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In this article, I compare Sabetai Unguru's and Wilbur Knorr's views on the historiography of ancient Greek mathematics. Although they share the same concern for avoiding anachronisms, they take very different stands on the role mathematical readings should have in the interpretation of ancient mathematics. While Unguru refuses any intrusion of mathematical practice into history, Knorr believes this practice to be a key tool for understanding the ancient tradition of geometry. Thus modern historians have to find their way between these opposing views while avoiding an unsatisfactory compromise. One approach to this, I propose, is to take ancient rhetoric into account. I illustrate this proposal by showing how rhetorical categories can help us to analyze mathematical texts. I finally show that such an approach accommodates Knorr's concern about ancient mathematical practice as well as the standards for modern historical research set by Unguru 25 years ago.

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Article Netz, Reviel (2003) The History of Early Mathematics: Ways of Re-Writing. Science in Context (p. 275). unapi

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