"Maria Gaetana Agnesi Biography." Biography Base Home. Web. 05 Apr. 2010.
"Maria Gaëtana Agnesi Biography | World of Mathematics Biography." BookRags.com: Book Summaries, Study Guides. Web. 05 Apr. 2010.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Works Cited
"Maria Gaetana Agnesi." Agnes Scott College - A Private, Liberal Arts Women's College in Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Web. 05 Apr. 2010. .
"Maria Gaetana Agnesi Biography." Biography Base Home. Web. 05 Apr. 2010..
"Maria Gaëtana Agnesi Biography | World of Mathematics Biography." BookRags.com: Book Summaries, Study Guides. Web. 05 Apr. 2010.
"Maria Gaetana Agnesi Biography." Biography Base Home. Web. 05 Apr. 2010.
"Maria Gaëtana Agnesi Biography | World of Mathematics Biography." BookRags.com: Book Summaries, Study Guides. Web. 05 Apr. 2010.
Scientist Interview
CS- Today we interview a female enlightenment legend, Maria Gaetana Agnesi. Now, Miss Agnesi, how are you today?
MGA- Why, I’m feeling fantastic today. I am a little nervous, this is my first interview.
CS- Well then, shall we begin. Now, tell what type of experiences early on started your fascination for science? Was there a time you might have thought science was your calling?
MGA- Well, yes, there were numerous times I felt interested in science. First off, I learned French, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and several other modern languages by the age of five. I also mastered mathematics in my teen years. Quite often, distinguished intellectuals would come to my house and I participated in most of their seminars. I often talked to the intellectuals about philosophy and mathematics. However, I only did this to please my father.
CS- I see. What was the role of these intellectuals that sparked your interest?
MGA- They were intellectuals of the same subjects that interested me. They were philosophers and mathematicians of the day. They always were happy to talk about their ideas.
CS- Really, how very interesting. What was the state of knowledge when you entered the field of mathematics?
MGA- By the time I entered mathematics, we were in the Renaissance age. It was a time of great discovery. I believe mathematicians were discovering new formulas and equations here and there. I hardly put a dent in the world with my discovery.
CS- Don’t be so modest, Miss Agnesi. You were one of the most important female mathematicians of the Renaissance. Surely you wouldn’t want to be forgotten for all your achievements?
MGA- I’m just glad to have helped many people with my discovery.
CS- Miss Agnesi, in your opinion, what were your greatest accomplishments?
MGA- Well, at the age of twenty, I started my work as a mathematician. I wrote my first book called Propositiones Philosophicae. It was about the discussions I had with the intellectuals at my house. Then I went on to make my most important achievement, writing Analytical Institutions. This would be a book about my work with differential and integral calculus. I am best known for the curve I discovered called the Witch of Agnesi.
CS- Now that is one marvelous picture, Miss Agnesi. You must have been quite an intellectual to have written those books and discovered this curve. Now, what was the state of the academy of science at this time? Did this affect you at all in your work?
MGA- The academy of science was growing so much during this time; it seemed that every time one person discovered something, numerous others discovered something else. It was an amazing time to be a scientist. Of course, all the academies of science were overwhelmed by how much people were discovering. I received a diploma for the Bologna Academy of Sciences and I accepted. Although, that wasn’t until after I had accomplished my greatest achievements.
CS- This is amazing, I almost wish I was around to be a part of the Renaissance. Now, what were some limitations that challenged you and your work?
MGA- Well, my mother died when I was still a teen, and my father died after my achievements. You see, my father was my inspiration, when he died, I couldn’t find anything fun about math anymore. After my father’s death, I stopped mathematics and devoted my life to other, more important needs. That was my biggest limitation. In Italy, people actually respected intellectual women, so that couldn’t have been a limitation.
CS- I had no idea your father was that important to you. However, we running out of time. What were the philosophical and religious beliefs at the time you were still practicing mathematics?
MGA- Well, it was the enlightenment during this time. Philosophical beliefs were being changed every day. However, the religious beliefs decided to bend to the ideas the philosophers were giving. Not all the ideas were accepted, but I know mine were. I was a very religious woman; I would never disagree with the church. In fact, Pope Benedict XIV awarded me the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy at Bologna.
CS- Well that gave you quite an advantage didn’t it. I obviously don’t have to ask this next question because you strongly believed in the church’s beliefs. That brings us to the question; what were the major economic, cultural, and political situations taking place while you were working?
MGA- Everything was changing. New forms of economies were being introduced, new cultures were being examined, and enlightenment thinkers were questioning their political leaders. I stayed true to the church; I didn’t care about what enlightenment thinkers were doing against politicians, the economy, and the culture.
CS- I’ve heard that you knew a musician when you were alive. Who was this musician?
MGA- That musician happened to be my sister, Maria Teresa Agnesi. She loved to play the piano and composed several different pieces of music.
CS- I would never have guessed your family was so keen on being known throughout your community. We have time for one more question. Were there any gender or class roles defined during your time as a mathematician?
MGA- There were no gender differences because I was a respected intellectual, even the men didn’t insult me for being intelligent. There were class roles, however, and I happened to be in a rich class just because my father knew so many distinguished intellectuals. I increased that amount of wealth by publishing my books about philosophy and mathematics.
CS- Thank you so much Miss Agnesi. I would love to ask you more, but we are out of time.
MGA- If you have any more questions, please feel free to find me to ask them.
CS- Of course Miss Agnesi, and again, thank you. Good-bye.
MGA- Why, I’m feeling fantastic today. I am a little nervous, this is my first interview.
CS- Well then, shall we begin. Now, tell what type of experiences early on started your fascination for science? Was there a time you might have thought science was your calling?
MGA- Well, yes, there were numerous times I felt interested in science. First off, I learned French, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and several other modern languages by the age of five. I also mastered mathematics in my teen years. Quite often, distinguished intellectuals would come to my house and I participated in most of their seminars. I often talked to the intellectuals about philosophy and mathematics. However, I only did this to please my father.
CS- I see. What was the role of these intellectuals that sparked your interest?
MGA- They were intellectuals of the same subjects that interested me. They were philosophers and mathematicians of the day. They always were happy to talk about their ideas.
CS- Really, how very interesting. What was the state of knowledge when you entered the field of mathematics?
MGA- By the time I entered mathematics, we were in the Renaissance age. It was a time of great discovery. I believe mathematicians were discovering new formulas and equations here and there. I hardly put a dent in the world with my discovery.
CS- Don’t be so modest, Miss Agnesi. You were one of the most important female mathematicians of the Renaissance. Surely you wouldn’t want to be forgotten for all your achievements?
MGA- I’m just glad to have helped many people with my discovery.
CS- Miss Agnesi, in your opinion, what were your greatest accomplishments?
MGA- Well, at the age of twenty, I started my work as a mathematician. I wrote my first book called Propositiones Philosophicae. It was about the discussions I had with the intellectuals at my house. Then I went on to make my most important achievement, writing Analytical Institutions. This would be a book about my work with differential and integral calculus. I am best known for the curve I discovered called the Witch of Agnesi.
CS- Now that is one marvelous picture, Miss Agnesi. You must have been quite an intellectual to have written those books and discovered this curve. Now, what was the state of the academy of science at this time? Did this affect you at all in your work?
MGA- The academy of science was growing so much during this time; it seemed that every time one person discovered something, numerous others discovered something else. It was an amazing time to be a scientist. Of course, all the academies of science were overwhelmed by how much people were discovering. I received a diploma for the Bologna Academy of Sciences and I accepted. Although, that wasn’t until after I had accomplished my greatest achievements.
CS- This is amazing, I almost wish I was around to be a part of the Renaissance. Now, what were some limitations that challenged you and your work?
MGA- Well, my mother died when I was still a teen, and my father died after my achievements. You see, my father was my inspiration, when he died, I couldn’t find anything fun about math anymore. After my father’s death, I stopped mathematics and devoted my life to other, more important needs. That was my biggest limitation. In Italy, people actually respected intellectual women, so that couldn’t have been a limitation.
CS- I had no idea your father was that important to you. However, we running out of time. What were the philosophical and religious beliefs at the time you were still practicing mathematics?
MGA- Well, it was the enlightenment during this time. Philosophical beliefs were being changed every day. However, the religious beliefs decided to bend to the ideas the philosophers were giving. Not all the ideas were accepted, but I know mine were. I was a very religious woman; I would never disagree with the church. In fact, Pope Benedict XIV awarded me the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy at Bologna.
CS- Well that gave you quite an advantage didn’t it. I obviously don’t have to ask this next question because you strongly believed in the church’s beliefs. That brings us to the question; what were the major economic, cultural, and political situations taking place while you were working?
MGA- Everything was changing. New forms of economies were being introduced, new cultures were being examined, and enlightenment thinkers were questioning their political leaders. I stayed true to the church; I didn’t care about what enlightenment thinkers were doing against politicians, the economy, and the culture.
CS- I’ve heard that you knew a musician when you were alive. Who was this musician?
MGA- That musician happened to be my sister, Maria Teresa Agnesi. She loved to play the piano and composed several different pieces of music.
CS- I would never have guessed your family was so keen on being known throughout your community. We have time for one more question. Were there any gender or class roles defined during your time as a mathematician?
MGA- There were no gender differences because I was a respected intellectual, even the men didn’t insult me for being intelligent. There were class roles, however, and I happened to be in a rich class just because my father knew so many distinguished intellectuals. I increased that amount of wealth by publishing my books about philosophy and mathematics.
CS- Thank you so much Miss Agnesi. I would love to ask you more, but we are out of time.
MGA- If you have any more questions, please feel free to find me to ask them.
CS- Of course Miss Agnesi, and again, thank you. Good-bye.
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