‹ BackHN Continuity

Thread

Why do we need human mathematicians anymore?

293 points · 384 comments · auggierose

  1. xanderlewis · · focus · HN ↗
    Friendly warning to those who might not be aware: the vast majority of comments below posts like the above will be left by (otherwise intelligent) programmers who think mathematics is a closed system where one attempts to solve endless Olympiad-type problems. I wouldn’t take any of it seriously at all. Better to listen to what those who actually know what the subject is about have to say.

    Unfortunately, mathematics (especially pure mathematics) is by its very nature very, very poorly understood by those who haven’t worked as a mathematician. Even worse, those who don’t understand are seemingly not at all aware of their misunderstanding and are entirely confident in their (very wrong) characterisation of the subject.

    1. colonwqbang · · focus · HN ↗
      Could you clue us in? What is mathematics actually about?
      1. CuriouslyC · · focus · HN ↗
        Pure mathematics reduces to abstract "relationships" and their implications largely.
Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.