Whereas I surely wouldn't recommend any particular calculus
course, the calculus itself is an exquisite analysis of the
complementarity of the local pattern of change within a system
with the global accumulation of that system. The heart of the
modern treatment is to capture the dynamic instant in a
triple nesting of conditional existences (the limit concept).
In earlier time, Newton addressed the same dynamic through
a coordination of infinitessimal quantities. Either version is
a remarkably intricate and beautiful intellectual creation.
Although I'm not one of the ones you asked to raise their
hand with respect to calculus, I'll answer instead with
respect to Greek language studies, without which I
suppose I have been reasonably successful. Do I miss
not being able to trace the etymology and development
of the words in which I'm enmeshed every waking moment
of my life? ...well, perhaps a tad.
David Kirshner
PS. Sorry to carry this topic in a direction so different than
I suspect you intended by your question. I guess that's the
danger of contributing a provocative question to an ongoing
discussion without providing the history.
Ken Goodman <kgoodman who-is-at u.arizona.edu> on 05/17/99 10:28:45 PM
Please respond to xmca who-is-at weber.ucsd.edu
To: xmca who-is-at weber.ucsd.edu
cc: (bcc: David H Kirshner/dkirsh/LSU)
Subject: Re: depth and breadth
Will all those out there who have become reasonably successful without
having had a calculus course raise their hands. And then will some one
suggest why there is pressure on American high schools to require
calculus courses of high school students?
Ken Goodman
--
Kenneth S. Goodman, Professor, Language, Reading & Culture
504 College of Education, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
fax 520 7456895 phone 520 6217868
These are mean times- and in the mean time
We need to Learn to Live Under Water