Literacy, Matheracy, and Technocracy: A Trivium for Today

Abstract

This article focuses on the relations between mathematics and mathematics education on the one hand and human behavior, societal models, and power on the other. Based on a critical analysis of school systems and of mathematical thinking, its history and its sociopolitical implications, anew concept of curriculum is suggested, organized in 3 strands: literacy, matheracy, and technoracy. This new concept sees education and scholarship as pursuing a major, comprehensive goal of building up a new civilization that rejects arrogance, inequity, and bigotry. Because the development of mathematics has been intertwined with all forms of human behavior in the history of human- kind, it is relevant to discuss mathematics and mathematics education with this major goal in mind.