Numeracy and writing constitute different phenomena, whose paths of formation often appear intertwined. Here we reassess the theory that numeracy evolved universally from a concrete to an abstract concept of number, and that that shift is correlated with the invention of writing. First, we gather contemporary linguistic data and early Mesopotamian epigraphic evidence that indicates that the ‘concrete’ vs. ‘abstract’ dichotomy is not useful to understand the emergence of numbers. Then, we discuss evidence from other regions where writing was probably invented independently, in order to investigate the conceptualization and formation of early numerical notations.
Numeracy at the dawn of writing: Mesopotamia and beyond / GRANDAO VALERIO, MIGUEL FILIPE; FERRARA, SILVIA. - In: HISTORIA MATHEMATICA. - ISSN 0315-0860. - ELETTRONICO. - 59:(2020), pp. 35-53. [10.1016/j.hm.2020.08.002]
Numeracy at the dawn of writing: Mesopotamia and beyond
GRANDAO VALERIO, MIGUEL FILIPE
;FERRARA, SILVIA
2020
Abstract
Numeracy and writing constitute different phenomena, whose paths of formation often appear intertwined. Here we reassess the theory that numeracy evolved universally from a concrete to an abstract concept of number, and that that shift is correlated with the invention of writing. First, we gather contemporary linguistic data and early Mesopotamian epigraphic evidence that indicates that the ‘concrete’ vs. ‘abstract’ dichotomy is not useful to understand the emergence of numbers. Then, we discuss evidence from other regions where writing was probably invented independently, in order to investigate the conceptualization and formation of early numerical notations.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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