Nature, Nurture and the Mathematics of Culture in the Light of Selected Works of Voltaire and Rousseau

Abstract

The noun “culture” and the verb “cultivate” were frequently used in 18th century French literature in a very special way. Drawing inspiration from this special usage, this paper examines culture as the art or science of shaping, polishing, sifting and enhancing raw nature by borrowing and using the most basic mathematical principles as the tools of the formation process of Man. However, the noble enterprise of nurturing Man and cultivating in him the best values is often compromised and subjected to so many hazards as in the case of the broadcast seed in the biblical parable of the sower.