David Bakker

Four papers I've written:

• Newton's Mathematical Universe. On the conflicts in Newton between the classical Greek style of doing geometry and algebra.
• The Drawbridge Problem. On a 17th century calculus problem considered by l'Hôpital, Johann Bernoulli, and Leibniz including their reflections on how to solve mathematical problems.
• The Objectivity of Mathematics. On the necessity of viewing mathematics as a human method that extends our ability to make quantitative identifications instead of a discipline trying to get away from human element as much as possible.
• Modelling Mollusks Mathematically. On the use of a mathematical model based on neural activity to model Mollusk pigmentation patterns, instead of a traditional diffusion model for so-called Turing patterns. Based on a 2009 Paper by Boettiger et al.

Talks I've given:

• Joseph Fourier and the Accusations of Insufficient Rigor: Then and Now. 35th Novembertagung on the History & Philosophy of Mathematics, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France (November 2025). [slides]
• Newton Versus Descartes on the Exactness of Mathematics. Masterclass in the Philosophy of Mathematical Practices, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium (June 2025). [slides | handout]

This year (25/26) is the final year of my three-year double master's program. The whole year I am writing my master's thesis. The provisionary title is Geometrical shape as a cause: Orthogonal Expansions and Mellin Transform Methods. I am also applying to PhD programs.

Coursework in 24/25:

• Partial Differential Equations (theoretical)
• Partial Differential Equations (numerical)
• Calculus of Variations
• History of Mathematics (the calculus of Newton & Leibniz)
• History of Mathematics (analysis beyond Newton & Leibniz)
• Philosophy of Science (general introduction)
• Lie Groups

Coursework in 23/24:

• Dynamical Systems
• Mathematical Biology
• Inverse Problems in Imaging
• Coding Theory
• History of Mathematics (linear algebra)
• History and Philosophy of Objectivity
• History of Science (general introduction)
• Plato & Aristotle

I completed my Bachelor's in (Applied) Mathematics at TU Delft (2020–2023).

Other links:

• Some notes (mostly) on philosophy of math.
• I collect quotes.
• Visualizers of geometric multiplication and of the exponential function.