Thread

1. layer8 · 1789665761 · focus · HN ↗

   > we urgently need to come up with good ways of explaining the value of having a large pool of human mathematical experts, even if it is no longer part of their role to find new proofs of theorems.

   This is the main issue, and while I fully agree with that value sentiment, the Fields medallists’ letter failed to provide convincing arguments for why mathematicians should widely receive funding for merely understanding things, and how competition for postdoc and tenure positions would work under these circumstances.

   1. jayprr · 1789666693 · focus · HN ↗

      Real mathematicians will continue their research, whether they receive funding or not.

      1. eden-u4 · 1789666792 · focus · HN ↗

         Yes of course for roughly 3 months, after that they'd starve

         1. bananaflag · 1789667419 · focus · HN ↗

            I know people who did research on the side for a decade while having an ordinary job. They then returned to academia.

            I couldn't do that, but I know there are people more passionate than me.

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