Space, time and Shakespeare - Paul Glendinning

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The talk provides valuable insights into the historical context of Shakespeare’s works, showing how mathematical and scientific ideas were part of everyday life. The argumentation is solid, based on specific examples from the plays and historical sources. Glendinning clearly explains the mathematical concepts, such as the calculation of moon phases, making them accessible to a general audience. He also connects these ideas to modern practices, like using drones and AI for counting crowds, demonstrating the enduring relevance of these techniques.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The talk demonstrates scientific rigor by referencing several scholarly works, including Jessica Otis’s ‘By the Numbers’, Adam Cohen’s ‘Shakespeare and Technology’, Dan Falk’s ‘The Science of Shakespeare’, and Rob Eastaway’s ‘Much Ado About Numbers’. Glendinning distinguishes his approach from these works, clarifying his focus on everyday mathematical practices rather than major scientific revolutions. The title accurately reflects the content, which explores the intersection of space, time, and Shakespeare’s works. The talk is well-structured and the sources are appropriately cited.

The title accurately reflects the content, which explores how mathematical and scientific ideas appear in Shakespeare's works.

8/10

The talk is given by a professor of applied mathematics, well-structured, and references several scholarly works. It clearly distinguishes between the speaker's interpretations and established facts, and uses historical sources appropriately.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 02:00Introduction: Glendinning explains his motivation as an applied mathematician and the concept of a 'mathematical eye'.
• 05:00He outlines his approach: using Shakespeare to explore how people in early modern England used mathematics and technology.
• 10:00First example: counting the enemy in Henry IV Part 2, explaining the density-area technique and its historical use.
• 15:00Second example: almanacs and moon phases in A Midsummer Night's Dream, showing how characters use an almanac to determine if there will be moonlight.
• 20:00Explanation of the mathematics behind lunar cycles and the golden number, as used in almanacs.
• 25:00Profiles of three mathematicians: John Dee, Leonard Digges, and Thomas Digges, and their connections to Shakespeare.
• 30:00Discussion of mirrors and sunrise, and how these phenomena appear in Shakespeare's works.
• 35:00Analysis of Sonnet 77 and King Lear, showing Shakespeare's awareness of technological and mathematical ideas.
• 40:00Further examples and concluding remarks on the integration of science and arts.

• By the Numbers — Recent book by Jessica Otis on early modern England and number systems.
• Shakespeare and Technology — Book by Adam Cohen examining technologies in the 16th and 17th centuries and their relation to Shakespeare.
• The Science of Shakespeare — Book by Dan Falk mapping scientific changes onto Shakespeare's works.
• Much Ado About Numbers — Book by Rob Eastaway on number games and puzzles in Shakespeare's time.

• By the Numbers — Supports the discussion of number systems in early modern England.
• Shakespeare and Technology — Aligns with the talk's focus on technology in Shakespeare's era.

• The Science of Shakespeare — Glendinning explicitly states that his approach differs from Falk's, as he is not mapping major scientific changes onto Shakespeare.
• Much Ado About Numbers — Glendinning notes some overlap but clarifies that his focus is on everyday mathematical practices rather than number games.