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Why do we need human mathematicians anymore?

293 points · 384 comments · auggierose

  1. twelve40 · · focus · HN ↗
    > We (humans) should help humanity flourish. I understand that not everyone agrees. I have been called a “speciesist” for being “too human-centric”.

    this is insane. the "speciesist" people aside (the best way for all other species to flourish is for humans to eradicate themselves right now, which is completely mad), i have the opposite problem: the _axiom_ seems to be: we should help ME flourish. "Me" as in people who are raking in trillions for their own very special selves right now, at the cost of everyone else's future, while none of them can be trusted to hold my cell phone for a second.

    > if an industry commits to the axiom of helping humanity flourish

    where does he see such industries, outside of maybe nonprofits?

    1. sinuhe69 · · focus · HN ↗
      As I understand you referred to Elon Musk. But this is Poh Shen Loh talking. If you don’t know who he is, look up or at least read his articles.
      1. quietbritishjim · · focus · HN ↗
        From his Wikipedia page:

        > Po-Shen Loh (Chinese: 罗博深; pinyin: Luó Bóshēn; born June 18, 1982) is an American mathematician specializing in combinatorics. Loh teaches at Carnegie Mellon University, and from 2014 to 2023 served as the national coach of the United States' International Mathematical Olympiad team. He is the founder of educational websites Expii and Live, and lead developer of contact-tracing app NOVID.

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