Intimations of Infinity: The Cultural Meanings of the Iqwaye Counting and Number Systems

by Jadran Mimica

This is a remarkable work which captures the reader's imagination as only few books do. From a description of the counting system of Iqwaye people of Papua New Guinea, the author develops a deeper and broader interpretation of the Iqwaye kinship system and cosmology, culminating in a powerful critique of western assumptions about the development of rational thought.

Genres: Anthropology

198 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1988

Reviews

[Kim Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing! It's by no means an easy read, but well worth the effort and completely accessible to even the most novice mathematical enthusiast. It's really a cross between and anthropological piece and mathematics. It explores the thinking, counting practices and creation stories of the Iqwaye of New Guinea. There are many comparisons and contrasts with typical western mathematical concepts of counting both in the physical and linguistic sense as well as in the philosophical sense. Really a dense, fascinating read.