Philip J. Davis

Philip J. Davis, of Providence; Mar. 14. He worked for the federal government at the national Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C., before joining the Brown faculty in the division of applied mathematics in 1963. His work in numerical analysis and approximation theory includes many research papers and technical books. His books, The Mathematical Experience and Descartes’ Dream, written jointly with Reuben Hersh, explored questions in the philosophy of mathematics and the role of mathematics in society. The Mathematical Experience received the American Book Award for 1983. A unique blend of biography and autobiography appeared in his work Mathematical Encounters of the Second Kind, and his book The Education of a Mathematician embraced both biography and educational philosophy. In addition to his mathematical writings, he also wrote several other books including Thomas Grey: Philosopher Cat and Ancient Loons. In 1956 he received a Guggenheim Award and in 1963 he was the recipient of the Chauvenet Prize from the Mathematical Association of America. In 1997 he was a doctoral lecturer for Roskilde University in Denmark and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa. He enjoyed music, art, and traveling. He is survived by four children, including Joseph ’82; and three grandchildren.