Björn Gunnlaugsson – Life and work: Enlightenment and religious philosophy in nineteenth century Icelandic mathematics education

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Abstract

Björn Gunnlaugsson (1788–1876) was a remarkable product of the Enlightenment movement in
Iceland. He was never admitted to a school, but learnt mathematics by himself and from his tenant-farmer father before he entered the University of Copenhagen, where he twice won its gold medal. He taught mathematics for forty years and made valuable geodetic measurements as a basis of a map of Iceland. He wrote about various astronomical topics, and published his first book on mathematics at the age of 77. The book, which is the main subject of this paper, reveals his devotion and genuine knowledge of mathematics, and his philosophical and religious attitude towards mathematical concepts, structure and conventions. In order to clarify his way of thought, several topics will be explored: zero and infinity, divisibility, exponential laws and imaginary numbers.
Translated title of the contributionBjörn Gunnlaugsson - Líf og starf: Upplýsingin og trúarleg heimspeki í íslenskri stærðfræðimenntun 19. aldar
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication"Dig where you stand"
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of a Conference on On-going Research in the History of Mathematics Education
EditorsKristín Bjarnadóttir, Fulvia Furinghetti, Gert Schubring
Place of PublicationReykjavík
PublisherHáskóli Íslands - Menntavísindasvið
Pages17 - 29
Number of pages13
ISBN (Print)978-9979-793-99-1
Publication statusPublished - 2009
EventA Conference on On-going Research in the History of Mathematics Education - Fjölbrautaskólinn í Garðabæ, Garðabær, Iceland
Duration: 20 Jun 202424 Jun 2024

Publication series

Name"Dig Where You Stand"
Volume1

Conference

ConferenceA Conference on On-going Research in the History of Mathematics Education
Country/TerritoryIceland
CityGarðabær
Period20/06/2424/06/24

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