What is Mathematics? New Answers to an Old Question

Extract

The title of my address is the question with which Professor Temple ended his presidential address two years ago, when he gave such a fascinating review of the impulses and influences, both external and internal, that have promoted the growth of mathematics. Whether he expected an answer I cannot tell; but this Association, since its foundation in 1897, has frequently taken as the theme of its discussions and reports the duty of teachers to show the meaning and inner unity of the subject, and not merely to teach techniques. So it is not out of place to consider from time to time whether we are agreed what this meaning is, and what the techniques have to do with it.