Morris Kline (1 May 1908 – 10 June 1992) was a Professor of Mathematics, a writer on the history, philosophy, and teaching of mathematics, and also a popularizer of mathematical subjects. May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... June 10 is the 161st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (162nd in leap years), with 204 days remaining. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Euclid, a famous Greek mathematician known as the father of geometry, is shown here in detail from The School of Athens by Raphael. ... The word mathematics comes from the Greek μάθημα (máthema) which means science, knowledge, or learning; μαθηματικός (mathematikós) means fond of learning. Today, the term refers to a specific body of knowledge -- the deductive study of quantity, structure, space and change. ... Philosophy of mathematics is that branch of philosophy which attempts to answer questions such as: why is mathematics useful in describing nature?, in which sense(s), if any, do mathematical entities such as numbers exist? and why and how are mathematical statements true?. Various approaches to answering these questions will...

Kline was born and grew up in Brooklyn. He was the son of Bernard Kline, an accountant, and Sarah (nee Spatt). He studied mathematics at New York University, earning his bachelor's degree in 1930, master's in 1932 and a doctorate in 1936. In 1939 he married Helen Mann. They had two daughters, Elizabeth and Judith, and a son, Douglas. At the time of his death he had three grandchildren. A map of New York City, highlighting Brooklyn. ... New York University (NYU) is a major research university in New York City. ...

Kline taught at New York University from 1938 to 1975, and wrote many papers and more than a dozen books on various aspects of mathematics and particularly mathematics teaching. He repeatedly stressed the need to teach the applications and usefulness of mathematics rather than expecting students to enjoy it for its own sake. Similarly, he urged that mathematical research concentrate on solving problems posed in other fields rather than building structures of interest only to other mathematicians.

Books

Kline's books included:

• Introduction to Mathematics (with Irvin W. Kay), Houghton Mifflin, 1937
• The Theory of Electromagnetic Waves (ed), Inter-science Publishers, 1951
• Mathematics in Western Culture, Oxford University Press,1953
• Mathematics and the Physical World, T. Y. Crowell Co., 1959
• Mathematics, A Cultural Approach, Addison-Wesley, 1962
• Electromagnetic Theory and Geometrical Optics, John Wiley and Sons, 1965
• Calculus, An intuitive and Physical Approach, John Wiley and Sons, 1967
• Mathematics for Liberal Arts, Addison-Wesley, 1967 (republished as Mathematics for the Nonmathematician, Dover Publications, Inc., 1985)
• Mathematics in the Modern World (ed), W. H. Freeman and Co., 1968
• Mathematical Thought From Ancient to Modern Times, Oxford University Press, 1972
• Why Johnny Can't Add: The Failure of the New Mathematics, St. Martin's Press, 1973
• Mathematics: The Loss of Certainty, Oxford University Press, 1980
• Mathematics: An Introduction to Its Spirit and Use; readings from Scientific American
• Mathematics in the Modern World; readings from Scientific American
• The Language of Shapes (with Abraham Wolf Crown)
• Mathematics and the Search for Knowledge

External links

• New York Times obituary