In this article, the author reports on a seminar for first-year college students that weaves mathematical proof and problem-solving together with discussions of cultural, philosophical, and aesthetic issues surrounding mathematics. The author's goal is for students to learn some mathematics, and--just as important--to think about the nature of…

An aspect of the long history of the struggle to quantify motion is briefly traced through three extended problem sets suitable for use in first year calculus courses. The sketch culminates with an application of simple mathematics to one of the most current problems in the theory of the universe. (Contains 2 figures.)