Article ID: CBB967889252

Women’s participation in mathematics in Scotland, 1730–1850 (2022)

unapi

The eighteenth century saw a flourishing of scientific and philosophical thought throughout Scotland, known as the Scottish Enlightenment. The accomplishments of prominent male figures of this period have been well documented in all disciplines. However, studies of women’s experiences are relatively sparse. This paper partially corrects this oversight by drawing together evidence for women’s participation in mathematics in Scotland between 1730 and 1850. In considering women across all social classes, it argues for a broad definition of ‘mathematics’ that includes arithmetic and astronomy, and assesses women’s opportunities for engagement under three headings: education, family, and sociability. It concludes that certain elements of Scottish Enlightenment culture promoted wider participation by women in mathematical activities than has previously been recognized, but that such participation continued to be circumscribed by societal views of the role of women within family formation.

...More
Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB967889252/

Similar Citations

Chapter Grabiner, Judith V.; (2002)
Maclaurin and Newton: The Newtonian Style and the Authority of Mathematics (/isis/citation/CBB000411090/)

Book Paul Wood; (2017)
Thomas Reid on Mathematics and Natural Philosophy (/isis/citation/CBB138957616/)

Chapter Vickers, Neil; (2011)
Aspects of Character and Sociability in Scottish Enlightenment Medicine (/isis/citation/CBB001251015/)

Book Davie, George Elder; (2000)
Scotch Metaphysics: A Century of Enlightenment in Scotland (/isis/citation/CBB000102187/)

Article Bruce Buchan; Silvia Sebastiani; (2021)
"No distinction of Black or Fair": The Natural History of Race in Adam Ferguson's Lectures on Moral Philosophy (/isis/citation/CBB206800727/)

Chapter Jenny Boucard; Eva Kaufholz-Soldat; Nicola M.R. Oswald; (2020)
Arithmetic and Memorial Practices by and Around Sophie Germain in the 19th Century (/isis/citation/CBB412993885/)

Chapter Luigi Pepe; (2015)
Lagrange tra meccanica e analisi (/isis/citation/CBB154068535/)

Book Eva Kaufholz-Soldat; Nicola M. R. Oswald; (2020)
Against All Odds: Women’s Ways to Mathematical Research Since 1800 (/isis/citation/CBB740130422/)

Book Bevilacqua, Fabio; Fregonese, Lucio; (2000)
Nuova Voltiana: Studies on Volta and His Times. Volume 2 (/isis/citation/CBB000110617/)

Book Günergun, Feza; (1998)
Osmanli Bilimi Arastirmalari II (/isis/citation/CBB000110619/)

Book Hilz, Helmut; Schwedt, Georg; (2002)
“Zur Belustigung und Belehrung”: Experimentierbücher aus zwei Jahrhunderten (/isis/citation/CBB000780051/)

Article Craik, Alex D. D.; O'Connor, John J.; (2011)
Some Unknown Documents Associated with William Wallace (1768--1843) (/isis/citation/CBB001034722/)

Book Boniface, Jacqueline; (2002)
Les constructions des nombres réels dans le mouvement d'arithmétisation de l'analyse (/isis/citation/CBB000771381/)

Thesis Ritchie, Jeffrey Jay; (2000)
Culture, natural history, and nationalism, 1765--1850 (/isis/citation/CBB001562691/)

Book Blanckaert, Claude; Porret, Michel; Brandli, Fabrice; (2006)
L'encyclopédie méthodique (1782--1832): des lumières au positivisme (/isis/citation/CBB000950640/)

Authors & Contributors
Oswald, Nicola M. R.
Kaufholz-Soldat, Eva
Craik, Alex D. D.
Buchan, Bruce
Wood, Paul B.
Vickers, Neil
Concepts
Mathematics
Science and society
Astronomy
Natural history
Arithmetic
Women mathematicians
Time Periods
18th century
19th century
Enlightenment
20th century, early
21st century
20th century
Places
Scotland
Italy
England
Turkey
Netherlands
Germany
Institutions
Select Society of Edinburgh
Comments

Be the first to comment!

{{ comment.created_by.username }} on {{ comment.created_on | date:'medium' }}

Log in or register to comment