How Did Plato Influence The Development Of Greek Mathematics

The idea of Greek mathematics as a philosophy is a key concept to the history of science. Many of the works of Greek mathematicians such Archimedes Euclid and Plato have fueled the formation of the most important Greek mathematical traditions of the early centuries till this day. There are two traditions of mathematics presented by Greek mathematicians: Practical mathematics and theoretical mathematics or better called abstract. These two fields differ so vastly from one another as they must be viewed separately in order to learn them. Early mathematicians from the 4th Century focused on arithmetic and counting numbers while the second stage of mathematical philosophers were more worried with measurements and volumes. The reliance of Greek …show more content…
Inspired by Socrates, he founded his Academy in Athens, where he emphasized mathematics as a way of understanding more about reality. Plato’s principle on theoretical mathematics was different from Euclid’s because he felt it more inherently beneficial to completely detach oneself from the physical world, and to go right into the world of abstract thought Plato’s theory of Forms seemed little to do with mathematical concepts, although he uses geometry as an example, i.e. the form of the Triangle. Plato defined the difference between practical calculations and theoretical mathematics as “a perspective that is still inherent in modern opposition of pure and applied sciences” (Plato 402). Plato had an outside interest for mathematics, as he discovered in mathematics knowledge which they were after. Plato compares theoretical mathematics and astronomy when he says “astronomy as in geometry we should employ problems and let the heavens answer at will” (Plato 416). Plato compared theoretical mathematics to astronomy where the alignment of the stars was ideal to the geometric alignments of lines. Plato believed the study of abstract mathematics and geometry accompanied by astronomy would guide the soul to visible realities. Plato rejected the notion of killing the pure intellect of geometry in order to reduce its excellence and …show more content…
Practical mathematics is the derivative of older traditions and was used to solve real life problems. It worked within a very traditional and stable framework in order to convey and communicate general methods. Practical mathematics was all pervasive which led to the rise of theoretical mathematics. Theoretical mathematics was very different from practical mathematics. It dealt with geometrical entities while dealing with general theorems. Euclid wanted to “prove theorems as a logical means which implies the status of objects being discussed in general” (Euclid 115). Theoretical Markers were generated as a point of differentiation meant to signify the distance from the social background associated with practical