Why I Like Math [pdf]
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Why I Like Math [pdf]
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Re: Why I Like Math [pdf]
#2I like the way this is framed in terms of the comparison to a religious experience. A few years ago I had one of those "unified model revelation" experiences in a non-mathematical field, and based on that experience I think I would ask the author how the follow-on learning or application went. In my experience, the intuitive "experience of the knowledge" was much more striking than the eventual unfolding and application of the logic in that case. However in other cases, the intuitive experience of the revelation/knowledge was weak, yet the model turned out to be somewhat randomly selected by others as interesting or applicable.
I thought this was interesting--that the revelatory experience can end up being so subjective and limited in the goes-nowhere-from-here sense, yet it feels so darn amazing at the time. I wondered if it was similar to seeing a Tetris happen for the first time. An emotional reward in the sense of rewarding an organizational triumph of the mind. And seeing it with the intuition is one of those things our mind loves to count as actually seeing it in real life.
(I've also experienced this as a practicing religious person; in religion though, the subjectivity can quickly become a bummer because the question of one's worthiness or lack of discipline is nearly always up for discussion, especially when you ask why the results were disappointing or something like that)
Re: Why I Like Math [pdf]
#3I like the way this is framed in terms of the comparison to a religious experience. A few years ago I had one of those "unified model revelation" experiences in a non-mathematical field, and based on that experience I think I would ask the author how the follow-on learning or application went. In my experience, the intuitive "experience of the knowledge" was much more striking than the eventual unfolding and applicat…
> In my experience, the intuitive "experience of the knowledge" was much more striking than the eventual unfolding and application of the logic in that case.
In math applications doesn't matter, just the beauty of the revelation. Understanding how everything in math is connected is the main goal of the field, so understanding more of it is never pointless.
But if we talk about applications then it is that if A and B are the same then all theorems derived for A also works for B and vice versa. This is very important since it automatically multiplies our productivity and learning rate! One such epiphany which many falters on is that x and y doesn't matter, they could be z or µ or whatever. Another which many struggles with but usually overcomes is that 10 + 30 is just as easy to compute as 1 + 3.
Re: Why I Like Math [pdf]
#4That is an enviable feeling to get from Math. It's true that enlightenment may come in many forms. Also, purpose and meaning is desperately needed even from the most sane and rational of us. For the lucky, religion is enough source for meaning and happiness. For others it may take a little more than that.
Re: Why I Like Math [pdf]
#5It's interesting to consider that people who look for a feeling of one-ness with the world can find it through Mathematics or through religion, even though they are considered almost diametrically opposite approaches to understand the Universe.
Re: Why I Like Math [pdf]
#6Was this written by _the_ Matt Stone?
I only realized that at the very end, which gives this whole thing another dimension.
Good read.
Re: Why I Like Math [pdf]
#7Can we state that math is something like religion? The search for The One Truth? I feel oddly connected with the author and his thoughts mirror mine almost completely, I was just not able to word them...
Re: Why I Like Math [pdf]
#8"Mathematics for Human Flourishing" [1] is a beautiful, inspiring book on deeply human perspective on mathematics.
[1] https://www.amazon.com/Mathematics-Human-Flourishing-Francis...
Re: Why I Like Math [pdf]
#9 That is an enviable feeling to get from Math. It's true that enlightenment may come in many forms. Also, purpose and meaning is desperately needed even from the most sane and rational of us. For the lucky, religion is enough source for meaning and happiness. For others it may take a little more than that.
Re: Why I Like Math [pdf]
#10Was this written by _the_ Matt Stone? I only realized that at the very end, which gives this whole thing another dimension. Good read.
> Was this written by _the_ Matt Stone?
Yes.