Cultural foundations of a mathematician’s thinking: a Psychobiographical exploration of Zoltán Paul Dienes and his cognitive development

Figures & data

Table 1. Communication tools

Communication tools
Macro level culture	Hungary	Austria	France	Hungary	Hungary	Hungary	Europe	UK
Micro level culture	Budapest family	Vienna Montessori Kinderheim	Nice, Paris Duncan’s commune	Pápa public school	Budapest New School	Budapest Piarists’ Grammar School	summer holidays	Devon Dartington Hall School
Language	+ Hungarian	+ German (Austrian)	+++ French Greek (anc. and modern)	+++ Hungarian German (stand.) Latin (anc.)	++ German (stand.) Latin (ancient)	++ German (stand.) Latin (anc.)	++++ German (stand) Italian French English	+++ English (stand.) English (med.) Latin (med.)
Writing systems			+ French	+ Hungarian Latin	+ Gothic	+ Greek	+ Italian	+ English
Reading			+ French	+++ Hungarian Latin German	++++ Gothic Slovakian Romanian Sazla		+ Italian	+ English
Writing and creating texts			+	+	+	+	+	+
Oral traditions and story-telling	+	+	++	+	+	+	++	+

Table 2. Cultural tools

Cultural tools
Macro level culture	Hungary	Austria	France	Hungary	Hungary	Hungary	Europe	UK
Micro level culture	Budapest family	ViennaMonte-ssori Kinder-heim	Nice, Paris Duncan’s commune	Pápa public school	Budapest New School	Budapest Piarists’ Grammar School	summer holidays	Devon Darting-ton Hall School
Community practices and traditions	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+
Rituals		+	++	+	+	++
Musical instruments	++	+	+		++			++
Visual and fine arts tools	++	+	++		++	+	+	++
Cultural artefacts and artworks	++	++	++	++	++	++	++	++

+: present; ++: abundant.

Table 3. Educational tools

Educational tools
Macro level culture	Hungary	Austria	France	Hungary	Hungary	Hungary	Europe	UK
Micro level culture	Budapest family	Vienna Monte-ssori Kinder-heim	Nice, Paris Duncan’s commune	Pápa public school	Budapest New School	Budapest Piarists’ Grammar School	summer holidays	Devon Darting-ton Hall School
Educational materials		++	+	+	++	++	+	++
Games and puzzles	++	++	+	+	++	+	++	++
Measurement and calibration tools		+	+	+	+	+	+	+

+: present; ++: abundant.

Table 4. Information and knowledge tools

Information and knowledge tools
Macro level culture	Hungary	Austria	France	Hungary	Hungary	Hungary	Europe	UK
Micro level culture	Budapest family	Vienna Monte-ssori Kinder-heim	Nice, Paris Duncan’s commune	Pápa public school	Budapest New School	Budapest Piarists’ Grammar School	summer holidays	Devon Darting-ton Hall School
Scientific instruments				+	+	+	+	+
Memory techniques		+	++	++	+	++	+	+
Cognitive strategies and heuristics	++	++	++	++	++	++	++	++

+: present; ++: abundant.