Values and Virtues of a Rural Society Reflected in 18th and 19th Century Arithmetic Textbooks in Iceland

Abstract

This presentation recounts a survey of six textbooks, published in the 18th, 19th and early 20th century, and their relations. While all the authors’ interests in the progress of Icelandic society are beyond doubt, their visions were to maintain the values and virtues of the old self-sufficient rural society, and to teach the public to make the most of its current resources. Three further characteristics of the authors and their values were detected; firstly a youthful enthusiasm; secondly, access to social network such as official positions and nepotism to ensure distribution of their products; and thirdly, the target groups were self-educating youngsters in the absence of schools.

This presentation recounts a survey of six textbooks, published in the 18th, 19th and early 20th century, and their relations. While all the authors’ interests in the progress of Icelandic society are beyond doubt, their visions were to maintain the values and virtues of the old self-sufficient rural society, and to teach the public to make the most of its current resources. Three further characteristics of the authors and their values were detected; firstly a youthful enthusiasm; secondly, access to social network such as official positions and nepotism to ensure distribution of their products; and thirdly, the target groups were self-educating youngsters in the absence of schools.