Most philosophers of mathematics treat it as isolated, timeless, ahistorical, inhuman. Reuben Hersh argues the contrary, that mathematics must be understood as a human activity, a social phenomenon, part of human culture, historically evolved, and intelligible only in a social context. Hersh pulls t[...]

Mathematics is often thought of as the coldest expression of pure reason. But few subjects provoke hotter emotions - and inspire more love and hatred - than mathematics. And although math is frequently idealized as floating above the messiness of human life, its story is nothing if not human; often,[...]