Research Catalog

Title

Borges and mathematics : lectures at Malba / Guillermo Martinez ; translated by Andrea G. Labinger.

Author

Martínez, Guillermo, 1962-

Publication

West Lafayette, Ind. : Purdue University Press, c2012.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xi, 140 p.; 22 cm.

Summary

"Borges and Mathematics is a short book of essays that explores the scientific thinking of the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986). Around half of the book consists of two "lectures" focused on mathematics. The rest of the book reflects on the relationship between literature, artistic creation, physics, and mathematics more generally. Written in a way that will be accessible even to those "who can only count to ten," the book presents a bravura demonstration of the intricate links between the worlds of sciences and arts, and it is a thought provoking call to dialog for readers from both traditions. The author, Guillermo Martinez, is both a recognized writer, whose murder mystery The Oxford Murders has been translated into thirty-five languages, and a PhD in mathematics. Contents: Borges and Mathematics: First Lecture; Borges and Mathematics: Second Lecture; The Golem and Artificial Intelligence; The Short Story as Logical System; A Margin Too Narrow; Euclid, or the Aesthetics of Mathematical Reasoning; Solutions and Disillusions; The Pythagorean Twins; The Music of Chance (Interview with Gregory Chaikin); Literature and Rationality; Who's Afraid of the Big Bad One?; A Small, Small God; God's Sinkhole. This book was originally published in Spanish as Borges y la matematica (2003). It has been translated with generous support from the Latino Cultural Center at Purdue University"--

Uniform Title

Borges y la matemática. English

Alternative Title

Borges y la matemática.

Subject

• Borges, Jorge Luis, 1899-1986 > Knowledge > Mathematics
• Mathematics in literature

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references..

Contents

Borges and mathematics, first lecture -- Borges amd mathematics, second lecture -- The Golem and artificial intelligence -- The short story as logical system -- A margin too narrow -- Euclid, or, the aesthetics of mathematical reasoning -- Solutions and disillusionment -- The Pythagorean twins -- The music of chance -- Literature and rationality -- Who's afraid of the big bad one? -- A small, small god -- God's sinkhole.

Call Number

JFD 13-4149

ISBN

• 9781557536327 (pbk.)
• 1557536325 (pbk.)
• 9781612492513 (epdf)
• 1612492517 (epdf)
• 9781612492520 (epub)
• 1612492525 (epub)

LCCN

2012021218

OCLC

777628361

Author

Martínez, Guillermo, 1962-

Title

Borges and mathematics : lectures at Malba / Guillermo Martinez ; translated by Andrea G. Labinger.

Imprint

West Lafayette, Ind. : Purdue University Press, c2012.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references..

Research Call Number

JFD 13-4149