Morris Kline (May 1, 1908 ? June 10, 1992) was a Professor of Mathematics, a writer on the history, philosophy, and teaching of mathematics, and also a popularizer of mathematical subjects.

Kline grew up in Brooklyn and in Jamaica, Queens. After graduating from Boys High School in Brooklyn, he studied mathematics at New York University, earning a bachelor's degree in 1930, a master's degree in 1932, and a doctorate in 1936.

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, 1977, Dover Publications 1998 reprint ISBN 0-486-40453-6
• Mathematics for Liberal Arts, Addison-Wesley, 1967, (republished as Mathematics for the Nonmathematician, Dover Publications, Inc., 1985) (ISBN 0-486-24823-2)
• 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
• Why the professor can't teach: Mathematics and the dilemma of university education, St. Martin's Press, 1977 (ISBN 0-312-87867-2)
• Mathematics: The Loss of Certainty, Oxford University Press, 1980 (ISBN 0-19-502754-X); OUP Galaxy Books pb. reprint (ISBN 0-19-503085-0)
• 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
• Texts

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