Mathematics in a Postmodern Age, edited by Russell W. Howell and W. James Bradley

For over 2000 years philosophers (and others) have cited mathematics as one of the few areas, if not the only one, where mortals could be certain of their knowledge. Indeed, the work of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler and Newton was deemed successful precisely because it offered mathematical explanations for physical phenomena. Aristotle and his "tendencies" went out the window. Objectivity was the new standard, and the means of measuring objectivity was mathematical rigor.

The certainty of mathematics and the objectivity of science have been core values of what is often called the modern worldview. Though this worldview may have begun in the 17th century, we have only to look at the federal budget to see that its values persist. In fiscal 1999, for example, the U.S. government allocated over $65 billion in federal money to mathematics, science and technology, but only $150 million or so to the arts. Mathematicians have been happy to accept their privileged status as bearers of truth, even at the cost of public ignorance about their abstract pursuits.

On what basis, then, might one challenge modern mathematical and scientific paradigms? Could we say that maybe Aristotle had it right after all? Well, no. But there is an opportunity for substantive critique from what is now called the postmodern view. To cast doubt on the presumed objectivity of science, proponents of postmodernism point out the relevance of power, culture and gender in many areas, ranging from literature and history to political science and psychology.