Math Worlds: Philosophical and Social Studies of Mathematics and Mathematics Education.

This book is a compilation of papers from authors who are all concerned with what bearing mathematical practice has on the production or construction of mathematics. The sections and chapters are: (1) General Introduction: "The Promethean Task of Bringing Mathematics to Earth" (S. Restivo); (2) Philosophical Perspectives: "Foundations of Mathematics or Mathematical Practice: Is One Forced to Choose?" (J. P. Van Bendegem), "A Naturalized Epistemology for a Platonist Mathematical Ontology" (M. D. Resnick), "Mathematical Skepticism: Are We Brains in a Countable Vat?" (T. Tymoczko), "Philosophical Problems of Mathematics in the Light of Evolutionary Epistemology" (Y. Rav); (3) Mathematics, Politics, and Pedagogy: "Mathematics as a Means and as a System" (R. Fischer), "Reflections on the Foundations of Research on Women and Mathematics" (H. Jungwirth), "Politicizing the Mathematics Classroom" (N. Noddings), "The Dialogical Nature of Reflective Knowledge" (O. Skovsmose), "Applied Mathematics as Social Contract" (P. J. Davis); and (4) Mathematics, Society, and Social Change: "Mathematics and Social Change" (R. Fischer), "The Social System of Mathematics and National Socialism: A Survey" (H. Mehrtens), and "The Social Life of Mathematics" (S. Restivo). Author and subject indexes are included. (MKR)