“谁需要数学史?”和“谁需要数学史!“表明了两种不同的态度,前者意味开诚的探讨,后者意味既定的否定看法。也许持后一种态度的朋友比较多,下文将讨论其中的原因,但为了更好讨论前一个问题,我们必须先弄清楚这里用“数学史”一词,指的是什么?或者这样说,当你听到“数学史”这个词,你会想起什么?人物?他们的工作?谁人何时发现什么?事件发生的始末?小故事?…… “Who needs a history of mathematics?” and “Who needs a history of mathematics!” show two different attitudes. The former means open discussion and the latter means established negative opinions. There may be more friends who hold the latter attitude. The reasons will be discussed below. But to better discuss the previous question, we must first find out what the term “history of mathematics” is used to refer to, or to put it this way, When you hear the word “history of mathematics”, what do you think of? People? Their work? When did they find out? What happened to the incident?