Mathematical tables in Ptolemy's Almagest

Nathan Sidoli

doi:10.1016/j.hm.2013.10.004

Mathematical tables in Ptolemy's Almagest

Nathan Sidoli

School of International Liberal Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper is a discussion of Ptolemy's use of mathematical tables in the Almagest. By focusing on Ptolemy's mathematical practice and terminology, I argue that Ptolemy used tables as part of an organized group of units of text, which I call the table nexus. In the context of this deductive structure, tables function in the Almagest in much the same way as theorems in a canonical work, such as the Elements, both as means of presenting acquired knowledge and as tools for producing further knowledge.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	13-37
Number of pages	25
Journal	Historia Mathematica
Volume	41
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hm.2013.10.004
Publication status	Published - 2014 Feb 1

Keywords

Almagest
Greek astronomy
Greek mathematics
Mathematical functions
Mathematical tables
Ptolemy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Mathematics(all)
History

Access to Document

10.1016/j.hm.2013.10.004

Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Mathematical tables in Ptolemy's Almagest'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this

@article{699cda7efad647a09f0b2c4512111abb,

title = "Mathematical tables in Ptolemy's Almagest",

abstract = "This paper is a discussion of Ptolemy's use of mathematical tables in the Almagest. By focusing on Ptolemy's mathematical practice and terminology, I argue that Ptolemy used tables as part of an organized group of units of text, which I call the table nexus. In the context of this deductive structure, tables function in the Almagest in much the same way as theorems in a canonical work, such as the Elements, both as means of presenting acquired knowledge and as tools for producing further knowledge.",

keywords = "Almagest, Greek astronomy, Greek mathematics, Mathematical functions, Mathematical tables, Ptolemy",

author = "Nathan Sidoli",

year = "2014",

month = feb,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.hm.2013.10.004",

language = "English",

volume = "41",

pages = "13--37",

journal = "Historia Mathematica",

issn = "0315-0860",

publisher = "Academic Press Inc.",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mathematical tables in Ptolemy's Almagest

AU - Sidoli, Nathan

PY - 2014/2/1

Y1 - 2014/2/1

N2 - This paper is a discussion of Ptolemy's use of mathematical tables in the Almagest. By focusing on Ptolemy's mathematical practice and terminology, I argue that Ptolemy used tables as part of an organized group of units of text, which I call the table nexus. In the context of this deductive structure, tables function in the Almagest in much the same way as theorems in a canonical work, such as the Elements, both as means of presenting acquired knowledge and as tools for producing further knowledge.

AB - This paper is a discussion of Ptolemy's use of mathematical tables in the Almagest. By focusing on Ptolemy's mathematical practice and terminology, I argue that Ptolemy used tables as part of an organized group of units of text, which I call the table nexus. In the context of this deductive structure, tables function in the Almagest in much the same way as theorems in a canonical work, such as the Elements, both as means of presenting acquired knowledge and as tools for producing further knowledge.

KW - Almagest

KW - Greek astronomy

KW - Greek mathematics

KW - Mathematical functions

KW - Mathematical tables

KW - Ptolemy

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84894271862&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84894271862&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.hm.2013.10.004

DO - 10.1016/j.hm.2013.10.004

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84894271862

VL - 41

SP - 13

EP - 37

JO - Historia Mathematica

JF - Historia Mathematica

SN - 0315-0860

IS - 1

ER -