How we understand mathematics. Conceptual integration in the language of mathematical description (Q1746112)

This brief book attempts to describe mathematics in terms of cognitive linguistics' conceptual integration theory. Specifically, Woźny examines \textit{I. N. Herstein}'s [Topics in algebra. A Blaisdell Book in the Pure and Applied Sciences. New York-Toronto- London: Blaisdell Publishing Company, a division of Ginn and Company (1964; Zbl 0122.01301); 2nd ed. Lexington, TX: Xerox College Publishing (1975; Zbl 1230.00004)] through the prisms of ``conceptual blending'' and ``small spatial story''. However, the book often proceeds by making pronouncements without bothering to justify them. Here are two examples. (1) ``Mathematical entities are eternal and unchanging; they exist in a world separate from the human world, don't they? Well, unfortunately, no. Mathematics, wonderful as it is, is a product of the human mind'' (p.~37). This passage suggests that the author expects many readers to have a Platonistic perspective. But apparently those readers are to abandon that perspective just on Woźny's say-so, without being offered an argument for the untenability of Platonism. (2) ``Mathematicians \(\ldots\) always know which small spatial story should be used, but they usually do not let us know'' (p.~81). Again, this broad statement comes unaccompanied by any supporting evidence. So what should one make of the sweeping claim in the introduction that ``I will prove that the construction of meaning in mathematics relies on the iterative use of basic mental operations of \textsl{story} and \textsl{blending} and demonstrate exactly how those two mental operations are responsible for the effectiveness and fecundity of mathematics'' (p.~3)? It would indeed be nice if, in 117 small pages, someone could incontrovertibly establish precisely how the human brain construes and processes mathematics---and definitively wrap up Wigner's issue of ``the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics'', to boot. However, one would suspect that these matters will continue to be debated for some time to come.