Mathematics and Narrative
Mathematics and Narrative
Why Are Stories and Proofs Interesting?
This chapter examines why a story or proof is interesting by considering the relation between mathematics and narrative, with particular emphasis on clues. It first presents an early view of the “cognitive meaning” that may shed some light on the connection between mathematics and narrative. It then discusses the cognitive interpretation of mathematical objects, arguing that the meaning of the mathematical line is the protomathematical object obtained by identification of the visual line and the vestibular line. It also contends that what makes the narration or the mathematics interesting is the vivacity of the dialogue and of the meaning it evokes, as well as its coherence as a construction.
Keywords: proof, story, mathematics, narrative, clues, cognitive meaning, mathematical objects, mathematical line, visual line, vestibular line
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