MATHEMATICS AND HUMAN RIGHTS - Kemper Human Rights Education FoundationKemper Human Rights Education Foundation

MATHEMATICS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

“The recognition that mathematics and human rights can be thought of as asking questions in similar ways is a practically useful idea. As disciplinary segregation becomes the norm in universities and educational institutions across the world, there exists a tendency to relegate the arts and humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to separate ends of a campus, to the extent that the deepest form of interdisciplinary collaboration occurs at annual faculty meetings. Acknowledging the connections between disciplines, and the subsequent responsibilities these connections generates allows for the growth of interdisciplinary research and discussion, increasing the potential for generating novel knowledge.” Priyanka Menon, Mathematics and the Question of Human Rights

“Imagine a math classroom that recognizes the power of mathematics and uses it as a tool to understand the world so that the mathematics can enjoin a larger conversation. What is it like to live on a minimum wage? How is wealth distributed throughout the country or world? When will a country first experience a shortage of food? Mathematics education has the potential to help students understand their lives and surroundings and see math as instrumental in making the world more equitable and just (Gutstein and Peterson 2006).” Blair Izard, Teaching Human Rights Through Mathematics, https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5951/mathteacher.112.2.0114?seq=1

“Game theory is a mathematical concept that aims to predict outcomes and solutions to an issue in which parties with conflicting, overlapping or mixed interests interact. In ‘theory’, the ‘game’ will bring everyone towards an optimal solution or ‘equilibrium’.” Gareth Willmer, The Beautiful Game Theory - Using Mathematics To Resolve Human Conflicts

“I thought math was just a subject they implanted on us just because they felt like it, but now I realize that you could use math to defend your rights and realize the injustices around you. Freida (a ninth-grade student quoted in Eric Gutstein and Bob Peterson, editors; Rethinking Mathematics: Teaching Social Justice by the Numbers.