Historia de la matemática: Integración cultural de las matemáticas, génesis de los conceptos y orientación de su enseñanza

Abstract

This report seeks to claim a didactic function for the History of Mathematics, justifying the fact that a complete and profound understanding of the fundamental concepts of any science requires the knowledge of its history. The excessive logical -deductive nature of present Mathematics has given rise to an excessive dogmatism in its teaching, together with an imposition of exactness and strictness as the fundamental, almost exclusive, values of Mathematics, thus influencing the students' negative response. We believe that these deficiencies can be put back to right by means of the teaching of the History of Mathematics, so as to enrich the teachings culturally. We suggest this subject be integrated inter -disciplinarily into the curriculum, and considered a source of inspiration, permanent self  training, and orientation for all educacional activity.