Monday, November 5, 2007

Where Math comes from

An interesting book on Math and the mind is "Where Math Comes From: How the Embodied Mind Brings Math into Being" by Lakoff and Nunez. The approach of the book is to illustrate the different types of metaphors which generate and capture mathematical concepts. The book is cognitive in emphasis and it might well be interesting to ponder the similarities and differences between cognition, embodied mind, and psyche!
Metaphor seems to fit more with cognition as there is a bit more focus and intention with metaphor. Psyche, on the other hand, has its symbols and not so much metaphors. Is there a reason for this? I still think the book is useful to those who may want to know more about the connection with psyche as psyche is pretty close to the embodied mind (and what about subtle body?).
The title can also be reversed and one can ask, "Given Math, how does it influence the Embodied Mind?". Such an approach would be useful in working with math in an active imagination session in analysis.

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