Mathematics and Ethics
In this episode we have a visit from Rebecca Teclemariam. She has worked for more than 30 years in education as an educator, teacher, teacher educator and administrator. We are particularly curious about how she connects mathematics and ethics. She attempts to show how essential values for humans can be shown mathematically. An example is to create a mathematical model that shows the relationship between generosity and friendship. We also discuss whether it is possible to measure all forms of values and knowledge mathematically, maybe even theological values. If it is true that the universe is mathematical, then we can stop doing mathematics based on material prosperity and growth and instead use human resources to measure the values that really have value for us. Can we stop giving value to what we think we can measure and instead measure what actually has value for us? This will have revolutionary impact and perhaps this is what we should do in schools to create a sustainable relationship between humans and the world?
Creators and Guests
Host
Knut Ove Æsøy
Knut Ove Æsøy grew up in Florø, a small town with about 10,000 inhabitants in the far west of Norway. The town provided closeness to nature and especially the sea, and much of his upbringing was about fishing and farming in addition to school and sports. He began working in industry at an early age before choosing an academic career. He has a doctorate in philosophy of science and currently works at OsloMet and the education of Norway's future teachers.
Host
Steven Phelps
Steven received dual bachelors’ degrees in physics and philosophy from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in physics from Princeton University. He subsequently worked for 13 years at the Bahá’í World Center in Haifa, Israel in its Research Department, where he coordinated the indexing and collation of the Bahá’í Sacred Writings and their translation from Persian and Arabic into English. During that period, he concurrently held an academic appointment in the Physics Department at the Technion University in Haifa and published original research on the masses of nearby galaxies. He currently resides in Portland, Oregon with his wife and three daughters. He loves armchair philosophizing and the great outdoors."
