Infinitesimal Questions

[James Haring]

Elane's Suggestion is excellent:

At the back of the book there is an epilogue, a brief bio of each of the characters and a timeline.  If you go over that much, you should be prepared to enjoy the discussion.

I do not plan on presenting an Bio of the author.  

My main discussion will have no math, no.  I don't have it quite line out, but the main discussion will be to compare and contrast the two 'parts' of the book (Italy vs England),  how the two handled the 'discussion' of the facts and long term consequences of each country.  

Questions in rough draft: 

• Can a society/leadership  suppress the truth in the long term?   What are the consequences? 
  
• Compare the 'discussion'  and dialog between the two counties, 
  
• Hobbes vs Wallis
• Galileo et al  vs  Jesuits
• ...
• Discuss how  infinitesimals where intertwined with the other issues of the day,  reformation, diggers, ...
  
• Compare the countries in the time after the time period of the book.   i.e.  What was the fate of the two countries in the aftermath.
• Contemporary issues:
• What are the contemporary issues are in discussion today?
• How are they discussed?  What is the discussion? 
  
• What long term consequences do you think will be the result? 
  

In case you are board, Background and reviews: 

• Background:
• https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Infinity
• http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Cavalieri.html
  

• Reviews:
• http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/08/science/infinitesimal-looks-at-an-historic-math-battle.html?_r=0
• http://www.npr.org/2014/04/20/303716795/far-from-infinitesimal-a-mathematical-paradoxs-role-in-history
  
• http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2014/11/best_books_2014_slate_staff_recommendations.html
• The publisher:   http://us.macmillan.com/infinitesimalhowadangerousmathematicaltheoryshapedthemodernworld/amiralexander  
• https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18593597-infinitesimal
• http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303380004579521490104668518
• Father of Windows Programming:   http://www.charlespetzold.com/blog/2014/06/Reading-Amir-Alexanders-Infinitesimal.html

See you there:

James

-- James
Mobile: +1 406-212-2163
Ja...@JamesHaring.com
Photographs and Annoying Rants www.JamesHaring.com

On 2016-02-19 3:08 PM, Eileen Barrett wrote:

Hi All,

I don't know about you, but I certainly am curious to see where James is going to take us in this discussion.

If you have found yourself unable to slog through the text, I have a suggestion.   At the back of the book there is an epilogue, a brief bio of each of the characters and a timeline.  If you go over that much, you should be prepared to enjoy the discussion.

See you there, Eileen

Sent from Samsung tablet

-------- Original message --------
From Kathleen Kint <kgk...@montanasky.us>
Date: 02/18/2016 9:12 PM (GMT-07:00)
To Anne Gentry <annege...@gmail.com>,Barbara Taylor <bmtayl...@gmail.com>,Bob Brooks <robro...@gmail.com>,Eileen Barrett <bear...@usa.com>,Felix Jimenez <felixj...@yahoo.com>,Gail Sullivan <guss...@aim.com>,James Haring <ja...@jamesharing.com>,Jim Lockwood <jimlo...@centurytel.net>,Marlene Barnes <mt...@bresnan.net>,Myrna Fleming <dnmfl...@yahoo.com>,Skeeter Johnston <mtsk...@hotmail.com>,Sue Janik <SueJ...@hotmail.com>
Subject Next Book Group Meeting


Hi Fellow Readers!
We have a little less than a week to finish INFINITESIMAL by Amir Alexander!!  Hope to see your cheery faces on Wednesday, February 24 at 6:00. 
Cheers, Kathy