189-338A: History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Professor: Henri Darmon
Classes: MWF 10:35-11:25. MacDonald Harrington Building, G-10
Course Blog: Click here.

Graders: TBA

TBA

Office Hours:
Darmon MW 9:35-10:25, in Burnside Hall 1111, or by appointment.

See also the Math Help Desk in BH911 operating Mondays to Fridays from noon to 5:00pm. This is a valuable ressource if you need extra help on the material or assignments, and you are strongly encouraged to make use of it.

Main textbooks:

William Dunham, Journey through genius, which can be purchased on amazon.ca for example.

Victor J. Katz, A History of Mathematics: An Introduction (4th ed.), Pearson, 2025. The book can be purchased in electronic format and consulted on myCourses through Willo Reader. The instructor will supplement the textbook with additional reading material, to be posted on myCourses.

Syllabus:
Historical mathematical and philosophical problems and their solutions are studied together with some of the modern developments they give rise to. The course focuses on how mathematics was done in past centuries, and involves the practice of mathematics, including detailed calculations, arguments based on geometric reasoning, and proofs. Lectures will closely follow the structure of the primary text, with extra material sometimes thrown in.

Grading scheme:
The grade will be assigned based on the following components:

Weekly quizzes: (20 %) A brief 10-20 minute quiz will be given on most Mondays, covering the material presented in the previous week. These quizzes will be given in class in a closed-book format, and you will be asked to scan your work at the end onto crowdmark. (So, while electronic devices will be strictly prohibited during the quiz, you will need to have your phone handy to be able to upload your work at the end of the quiz.) The lowest two quiz grades will be discarded, so if you have to miss one or two quizzes you should not worry about it.

Mid-term exam (30%): A one hour midterm exam will be given on Friday, October 16 (right after the reading break).

Final exam (50%): A formal three hour final exam will be given at the end of the semester.

The obligatory statements

McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore, all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see www.mcgill.ca/integrity for more information).

In accord with McGill University's Charter of Students' Rights, students in this course have the right to submit in English or in French any written work that is to be graded.

In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University's control, the content and/or evaluation scheme in this course is subject to change.