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“Perseverance and intelligence, but no genius”: Mary Somerville's theory of differences
In 1873 the Personal Recollections from Early Life to Old Age of Mary Somerville were published, containing detailed descriptions of her life as a 19th century philosopher, mathematician and advocate of women’s rights. In an early draft of this work, Somerville reiterated the widely held view that a fundamental difference between men and women was the latter’s lack of originality, or ‘genius’.
In my talk I will examine how Somerville’s view was influenced by the historic treatment of women, both within scientific research, scientific institutions and wider society. By building on my doctoral research I will also suggest an alternative viewpoint in which her work in the differential calculus can be seen as original, with a focus on her 1834 treatise On the Theory of Differences.
Date:
8 May 2018, 16:00
Venue:
Mathematical Institute, Woodstock Road OX2 6GG
Venue Details:
Lecture room L3
Speaker:
Brigitte Stenhouse (The Open University)
Organising department:
Mathematical Institute
Organiser:
Christopher Hollings (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address:
christopher.hollings@maths.ox.ac.uk
Host:
Christopher Hollings (University of Oxford)
Part of:
What do historians of mathematics do?
Booking required?:
Not required
Audience:
Public
Editor:
Christopher Hollings
