MM550: Perspectives on Mathematics

Study Board of Science

Teaching language: Danish or English depending on the teacher
EKA: N300040112, N300040102
Assessment: Second examiner: None, Second examiner: External
Grading: Pass/Fail, 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Spring
Level: Bachelor

STADS ID (UVA): N300040101
ECTS value: 5

Date of Approval: 25-10-2018


Duration: 1 semester

Version: Archive

Comment

13015001(former UVA) is identical with this course description. 
The course cannot be chosen by students who passed NAT504.

Entry requirements

None

Academic preconditions

Students taking the course are expected to:
  • Have knowledge of the various fields of mathematics algebra, analysis and statistics.

Course introduction

The course introduces central themes from the Philosophy of
Mathematics and discusses ethical problems that are relevant to
mathematics and the natural sciences. 

The course presupposes a
broad knowledge in mathematics as obtained through the bachelor-degree
in mathematics as the course’s aim is to discuss mathematics.
Furthermore some themes build on the knowledge of basic logic as
obtained in for example MM537.

If the student takes further courses in this area, it is possible to write a master thesis in this area.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:
  • Give the competence to reflect on mathematics as a subject and mathematics role in the society
  • Give skills to reason and argue about themes in the philosophy of mathematics
  • Give knowledge and understanding of positions in the philosophy of mathematics

Expected learning outcome

The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:
  • reproduce central parts of the literature of the course.
  • use the notions and concepts from the course correctly.
  • relate relevant issues about the students subject to the theories presented in the course.
  • Argue for independent points of view relevant for this course.

Content

Themes are:
  • Role of university and mathematics in society.
  • Methods in mathematics (epistemology).
  • Theory and Reality (ontology).
  • Ethics.

Literature

See Blackboard for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Examination regulations

Prerequisites for participating in the exam element a)

Timing

Spring

Tests

Project

EKA

N300040112

Assessment

Second examiner: None

Grading

Pass/Fail

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course

ECTS value

0

Additional information

An approved project is a prerequisite for participation in the exam element a)

Exam element a)

Timing

June

Prerequisites

Type Prerequisite name Prerequisite course
Examination part Prerequisites for participating in the exam element a) N300040101, MM550: Perspectives on Mathematics

Tests

Oral exam

EKA

N300040102

Assessment

Second examiner: External

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Student Identification Card

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course

ECTS value

5

Additional information

The examination form for re-examination may be different from the exam form at the regular exam.

Indicative number of lessons

34 hours per semester

Teaching Method

The themes listed will be introduced in lectures and will afterwards be discussed in relation to mathematics in smaller classes. The exercises will sometimes have lectures by the responsible teacher but mostly they will be based on active participation. During the course all students will be giving a presentation of chosen topic in a group. Based on this presentation the group will then write a report that will be the starting point of the oral exam. Note that a presentation as well as a passed project is a prerequisite to go to the final exam.

Educational activities 

The study phase is mainly used to prepare presentations and write reports.

Teacher responsible

Name E-mail Department
John Bulava bulava@imada.sdu.dk CP3-origins

Timetable

Administrative Unit

Institut for Matematik og Datalogi (matematik)

Team at Educational Law & Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Profile Education Semester Offer period