Foundations of Eurocentrism in mathematics

Visiting Fellowship collecting material for a forthcoming book, entitled History of Mathematics: a non-Euroceritric approach. There exists a widespread Eurocentric bias in the production, dissemination and evaluation of scientific knowledge. And this is in part a result of the way many perceive the development of science over the ages. For many Third World societies, still in the grip of an intellec-tual dependence promoted by European dominance during the past two or three centuries, the indigenous scientific base which may have been innovative and self-sufficient during precolonial times is neglected or often treated with a contempt that it does not deserve. An understan-ding of the dynamics of precolonial science and technology in these societies and an identification of the nature of the base on which the superstructure rested are essential in formulating a strategy of mean-ingful adaptation of the indigenous forms that remain to present-day scientific and technological requirements. Now an important area of concern for anti-racists is the manner in which European scholarship has represented the past and potentialities of non-white societies with respect to their achievement and capabilities in promoting science and technology. The progress of Europe and its cultural dependencies * during the last 400 years is perceived by many as inextricably- and even causally- linked with the rapid growth of * The term ’cultural dependencies ’ is used here to describe those countries- notably the