REMEMBERING ERNST MACH (1838-1916) AS A SCIENTIST AND AN EDUCATOR

On the occasion of the centenary of his death, we consider the figure and the work of the Austrian physicist, physiologist and philosopher Ernst Mach (1838-1916). We focus on Mach’s role as an educator, at various levels, both as a professor and as a conference speaker. This becomes clear when considering his results in science education and, particularly, mathematics education. In Mach’s vision, scientific education helps people to understand the world in which they live and so to act in an “economic” way (according to the very Machian meaning of the term). Therefore, with the aim of improving science and mathematics education, Mach suggested a set of operational guidelines to be implemented. We conclude by pointing out the modernity of Mach’s ideas on education that still animate our present.