Far from being fixed and timeless notions, magnitudes, numbers and equations are three objects that were conceived by mathematicians in a -sometimes radically- different way, and that were influenced by their historical context. The course analyses the evolution of these objects from Greek Antiquity to the beginning of 17th century, via Arabic and Latin Middle Age, and the Italian Renaissance.

Students are given the opportunity to present drafts of their own master's thesis and discuss them within the framework of the colloquium. It does not matter whether students are in the preparatory phase or already in the midst of the writing process. The focus is on mutual peer feedback rather than subject-specific input from the faculty supervisor.

The course examines several aspects of the interconnections between science and philosophy from the Middle Ages to the early modern times.

Introduction to methods, theories and work techniques of the disciplines represented in the study programme.