5. Dehumanisation through mathematics

Mathematics can be seen as a project of dehumanisation in the sense that it allows us to work with a disregard for personal uniqueness. While the word ‘dehumanisation’ has a negative connotation and invites us to study this property of mathematics carefully, dehumanisation is also one of the great strengths of mathematics and has proved invaluable for modern society. We will trace this f ield of tension along two indisputable ingredients of mathematics activity: calculation and logic. As there is enough literature praising mathematics, we allow ourselves to take a more critical stance towards dehumanisation through mathematics. We end with a sceptical discussion on whether mathematics can be rehumanised.