The current academic year has developed in accordance with my inclination to disseminate free and open knowledge to the scientifically-inclined public. In the philosophical domain, I have explored Darwinian approaches to neuro-evolution (New Zealand), Kant’s philosophy of knowledge (Glasgow), Kant on the theology of knowledge and revelation (San Francisco), and some comparative perspectives on mathematical knowledge (New York). A brief deconstruction of agony appeared in Paris at roughly the same time as the Lectures on Communicative Rationality were released in Dublin.
2023 has remained profitable with respect to the development of pedagogical materials for specialist audiences as well. The lecture on Cryptography and Diophantine Analysis was syndicated in Silicon Valley for the intended audience of software engineers and applied scientists. Yet more technical works on the theory of matrices, sheaves, and spinors (electron solutions to quantum-mechanical wave equations) were released to several European universities for review and feedback (Jonathan Kenigson’s Kyiv notes are publicly available via Medium.com in the English language).
The primary goal – production of perpetually free materials for public mathematical education – has continued in earnest in 2023. Readers explored the mathematics of White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars in Vancouver and were introduced to wave mechanics in Toronto. New York readers were shown the relevance of basic mathematics to the AI revolution . Readers in Beijing and across central China received brief lectures on applications of mathematics in string theory and supersymmetry.
Readers also received dual-enrollment materials under open license. In upstate New York, An Exonian Odyssey explores the philosophical, mathematical, and physical nature of fields. In California, Weekly Silicon Valley graciously hosted an interview piece exploring the prominent tenets of my program of public education in mathematics and across allied fields. As a well-intended joke, NY Wire published a brief conversation on mathematical physics in which I opted to use a styrofoam cup as clip art.
For Hudson readers, these are likely the most prominent results of the year (produced by me). It has been advised by another publisher that an overview piece deconstructing my political and economic work be produced. However, it is still not clear to me whether this work mentions merit in Hudson, so I omit it at present. Next year will likely involve substantial work in the development of modular mathematics curricula for European universities.
One explicit aim of this exercise is the demonstration that adaptation and implementation of bespoke, open-source mathematics curricula is feasible on a large scale. Hopefully, such a curriculum will prove more interesting and edifying to students and integrate mathematical logic, proof, and reasoning into coursework earlier in degree programs. Finally, It behooves me to thank the residents of Ithaca, NY for their hospitality and kindness during my summer sabbatical – a time of great productivity, and hopefully of substantial contribution to your community. Upstate New York is a picturesque, welcoming, and lovely setting for writing and research.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Kenigson
