The Mathematician's Mind

The Psychology of Invention in the Mathematical Field

By: Jacques Hadamard

Write A Review

Paperback | 2 January 1997

At a Glance

Paperback
168 Pages

Edition Type
Revised

Dimensions(cm)
20.3 x 12.7 x 1.27

Paperback

RRP $62.99

$45.25

28%OFF

or 4 interest-free payments of $11.31 with

Aims to ship in 5 to 10 business days

Fifty years ago when Jacques Hadamard set out to explore how mathematicians invent new ideas, he considered the creative experiences of some of the greatest thinkers of his generation, such as George Polya, Claude Levi-Strauss, and Albert Einstein. It appeared that inspiration could strike anytime, particularly after an individual had worked hard on a problem for days and then turned attention to another activity. In exploring this phenomenon, Hadamard produced one of the most famous and cogent cases for the existence of unconscious mental processes in mathematical invention and other forms of creativity. Written before the explosion of research in computers and cognitive science, his book, originally titled The Psychology of Invention in the Mathematical Field, remains an important tool for exploring the increasingly complex problem of mental life.

The roots of creativity for Hadamard lie not in consciousness, but in the long unconscious work of incubation, and in the unconscious aesthetic selection of ideas that thereby pass into consciousness. His discussion of this process comprises a wide range of topics, including the use of mental images or symbols, visualized or auditory words, "meaningless" words, logic, and intuition. Among the important documents collected is a letter from Albert Einstein analyzing his own mechanism of thought.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

You Can Find This Book In

$45.25

28%
OFF

The Eternal Darkness

A Personal History of Deep-Sea Exploration

Paperback

RRP $44.99

$38.90

14%
OFF

Dr. Euler's Fabulous Formula : Cures Many Mathematical Ills - Paul Nahin

$31.75

Our Cosmic Habitat

New Edition

Paperback

RRP $32.99

$31.75

Gamma : Exploring Euler's Constant - Julian Havil

$33.25

Eye and Brain : The Psychology of Seeing - Fifth Edition - Richard L. Gregory

$47.50

Preface to the Paperback Edition
Foreword
Introduction
General Views and Inquiries	p. 1
Discussions on Unconsciousness	p. 21
The Unconscious and Discovery	p. 29
The Preparation Stage
Logic and Chance	p. 43
The Later Conscious Work	p. 56
Discovery as a Synthesis
The Help of Signs	p. 64
Different Kinds of Mathematical Minds	p. 100
Paradoxical Cases of Intuition	p. 116
The General Direction of Research	p. 124
Final Remarks	p. 133
App. I	p. 137
App. II	p. 142
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

The Mathematician's Mind

The Psychology of Invention in the Mathematical Field

At a Glance

Paperback

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

Princeton Science Library

Polyominoes

Puzzles, Patterns, Problems, and Packings - Revised and Expanded Second Edition