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How do we prevent mathemathics from devolving into the Medieval Era of secrecy?

158 points · 146 comments · jjgreen

jan_m_savage · 1789704911 · focus · HN ↗
Talking about frontier mathematics? Even the common for-mere-mortals version of mathematics is totally inaccessible to most people. Even to those who want to really learn it.
Take a good look at the textbooks that teach mathematics and tell me I am wrong.
1. Paracompact · 1789708415 · focus · HN ↗
  If there is any barrier, it is not intentional, I assure you. Math is just hard.
  1. jan_m_savage · 1789734622 · focus · HN ↗
    It is but not so hard as it appears now.
    Part of the difficulty is artificial.
    Whether intentional or not, it's there. I have yet to see a textbook that really taught learners as they deserve to be taught. Some are good in some aspects, but a perfect textbook does not exist.
    "Here are some theorems and some proofs and here are some ideas left as exercise to the student". smh.

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