The Mathematical Society of Yevgeny Zamyatin's We by Peter Amstutz

In mathematics, the integral represents the area under a curve. The indefinite integral of a function is another function which can be used to calculate this area. Mathematically, indefinite integrals are curious: for many functions cannot be integrated exactly, only approximated by discrete methods. Integrals can only be used for functions whose domain is rational numbers; ironically, if one wishes to integrate a discrete function whose domain is integers, the integral will only be an approximation. Keeping this odd duality in mind -- the relation of the indefinite rational to definite integer -- we turn to the interplay of Mathematics and Society in Zamyatin's We. more...