Immaculate Heart of Mary School Newsletter July:2015 Mathematics and Christian Education By Br. Francis, M.I.C.M Nothing could be more distinctive of the age in which we live than the overpowering prominence of mathematics. All through the Catholic centuries, arithmetic and geometry constituted all the mathematics that an educated Christian was asked to learn. Even these two subjects were treated from a more contemplative point of view, which made them far more harmonious with other liberal studies. Arithmetic consisted in the study of the properties of numbers; geometry in the study of shapes and figures. When not overdone, and when counterbalanced by the proper correctives from the other types of knowledge, geometry and arithmetic, as they used to be taught, cultivated a few desirable virtues of the mind like clarity and precision, and sharpened the mind for the perception of harmony, rhythm, and pattern in the study of nature and of Holy Scripture. But even then, many saints and sages warned against the excessive preoccupation with such studies, and especially against the seductive clarity of mathematics; for it is not enough for the mind to be accurate and clear; we are bound to ask “accurate and clear about what?” Since in mathematics accuracy and clarity are achieved at the price of the reality and the goodness of the object, it is a danger of the mathematical mind to continue to sacrifice reality and goodness for the sake of clarity in every other field in which man must seek and find the truth. To read the article in full, click here. Visit Our New Website! Visit us at: ihmsnh.org You Make the Difference! Our school survives because of your generosity. Thank you for your help. If you would like to donate to the school go to ihmsnh.org or call (603)239-6495. We are a non-profit 501c(3) organization so your donations are tax deductible. Won't you consider giving today?
Immaculate Heart of Mary School NewsletterJuly:2015Mathematics
and Christian EducationBy Br. Francis M.I.!.MNothin" coul# $e more
#istincti%e of the a"e in which we li%e than the o%er&owerin"
&rominence of mathematics. 'll throu"h the !atholic centuries
arithmetic an# "eometry constitute# all the mathematics that an
e#ucate# !hristian was as(e# to learn. )%en these two su$*ects were
treate# from a more contem&lati%e &oint of %iew which ma#e
them far more harmonious with other li$eral stu#ies. 'rithmetic
consiste# in the stu#y of the &ro&erties of num$ers+
"eometry in the stu#y of sha&es an# fi"ures. ,hen not o%er#one
an# when counter$alance# $y the &ro&er correcti%es from the
other ty&es of (nowle#"e "eometry an# arithmetic as they use#
to $e tau"ht culti%ate# a few #esira$le %irtues of the min# li(e
clarity an# &recision an# shar&ene# the min# for the
&erce&tion of harmony rhythm an# &attern in the stu#y
of nature an# of Holy Scri&ture. But e%en then many saints an#
sa"es warne# a"ainst the e-cessi%e &reoccu&ation with such
stu#ies an# es&ecially a"ainst the se#ucti%e clarity of
mathematics+ for it is not enou"h for the min# to $e accurate an#
clear+ we are $oun# to as( .accurate an# clear a$out what/0 Since
in mathematics accuracy an# clarity areachie%e# at the &rice of
the reality an# the "oo#ness of the o$*ect it is a #an"er of the
mathematical min# to continue to sacrifice reality an# "oo#ness for
the sa(e of clarity in e%ery other fiel# in which man must see( an#
fin# the truth.1o rea# the article in full clic( here.Visit Our New
Website!2isit us at: ihmsnh.or"You Make the Difference!3ur school
sur%i%es $ecause of your "enerosity. 1han( you for your hel&.
If you woul# li(e to #onate to the school "o to ihmsnh.or" or call
4506726895:85. ,e are a non9&rofit 501c467 or"ani;ation so your
#onations are ta- #e#ucti$le. ,onast Monthisten to this story@
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