Special Issue of The Mathematics Enthusiast
on Liberal Arts Mathematics
Invited Editor: Andrei Rodin (Smolny Beyond Borders)
Liberal Arts Mathematics (LAM) emerged as a pedagogical concept roughly a century ago. A symbolic point of origin can be taken to be 1911, when A. N. Whitehead published Introduction to Mathematics—a work that informally presented foundational mathematical concepts but offered little in the way of technical skill-building. Throughout the twentieth century and into the present, mathematical articles, books, and textbooks produced under the banner of Liberal Arts have been remarkably diverse. Some emphasize logical foundations; others highlight the humanistic and cultural dimensions of mathematics, its history, its aesthetic, social, political, or economic significance. What unites this diverse literature is a shared humanistic perspective on mathematics and mathematics education.
The contemporary challenge posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Mathematics Education arguably gives LAM more relevance than ever. Since AI now systematically outperforms even our strongest mathematics students in technical problem-solving, it is natural—indeed necessary—to refocus on the properly humanistic aspects of learning mathematics, which have traditionally been emphasized and developed within LAM.
The purpose of this Special Issue of The Mathematics Enthusiast is to present the current landscape of LAM, reflect on its conceptual foundations and historical development, and explore its future trajectories within the context of AI-powered Mathematics Education. We invite submissions addressing all aspects of Liberal Arts Mathematics, both theoretical and practical. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Humanistic aspects of Mathematics Education and AI
- Social and political dimensions of Mathematics Education: Can or should Mathematics Education be ethically and politically neutral?
- History of Mathematics in Mathematics Education
- Philosophy of Mathematics in Mathematics Education
- The past and future of Liberal Arts Mathematics
- Case studies in LAM
Please submit your manuscript by April 15, 2026 to: andreirodin966 (at) gmail (dot) com (Andrei Rodin)