- Paul Ernest
Paul Ernest is a recent contributor to the social constructivist (see
social constructivism ) philosophy ofmathematics . He illustrates this position in his discussion of the issue of whether mathematics is discovered or invented. [http://www.ex.ac.uk/~PErnest/pome12/article2.htm] His fullest exposition of the social constructivist position is given in the 1998 reference, although an earlier version is given in the 1991 reference.Paul Ernest was born in
New York City ,New York in 1944 to parentsJohn Ernest andElna Ernest (neeAdlerbert ). However he has lived and worked in the UK since childhood, apart from two years of teaching at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica (1982-84). He is currently emeritus professor of thephilosophy of mathematics education at Exeter University, UK. Originally a student of mathematics and philosophy up to PhD level he became interested in educational issues through teaching school mathematics in London during the 1970s. His main research interests concern fundamental questions about the nature of mathematics and how it relates to teaching, learning and society. He is currently working on a semiotic theory of mathematics and education. He is best known for his work on philosophical aspects ofmathematics education and his contributions to developing a social constructivistphilosophy of mathematics .References
*Ernest, Paul; "Social Constructivism as a Philosophy of Mathematics"; Albany, New York: State University of New York Press, (1998) [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IHm0sJ6VznQC&dq=Social+Constructivism+as+a+Philosophy+of+Mathematics&pg=PP1&ots=f8M0d1jm4_&sig=ghPVTNM02LJSagyoF_NA26kedP8&prev=http://www.google.co.uk/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3DSocial%2BConstructivism%2Bas%2Ba%2BPhilosophy%2Bof%2BMathematics%26meta%3D&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title#PPP1,M1]
*Ernest, Paul; "The Philosophy of Mathematics Education"; London: RoutledgeFalmer, (1991) [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=fdnhKX0P45oC&pg=PP1&ots=3V0Tk0Egif&dq=The+Philosophy+of+Mathematics+Education&sig=qt3y62tuX1DlBDhI2mZiYYY2pc4]External links
Details of Paul Ernest's publications and the web journal that he edits "The Philosophy of Mathematics Education journal" are given on his homepage.
* http://www.people.ex.ac.uk/PErnest/
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
