Thread

1. strideashort · 1789986487 · focus · HN ↗

   We need to pivot math towards intuition and accessibility.

   Math has built a gated, inaccessible institution which - by design or not - served as a moat.

   I believe math has little to do with mathematical notation - intuition is much more important. One can have intuition but not be able to “read math” - much as many musicians don’t “read music”.

   Reading math however does not guarantee ideas or intuition. And those are what math needs.

   1. elendilm · 1789987668 · focus · HN ↗

      You would be surprised at the number of people (who study math formally) who just memorize proofs and having no clue what it all fundamentally is about.

      1. criddell · 1789991814 · focus · HN ↗

         Shut up and calculate.

         1. elendilm · 1790005781 · focus · HN ↗

            No :). There are many who want to understand.
      2. gjm11 · 1789999765 · focus · HN ↗

         I am a mathematician, though I haven't been in academia for many years, and I would indeed be surprised if there were a lot of mathematicians who "just memorize proofs". Do you really mean that, and if so what's your evidence for it? (And: how do you suppose it is possible for someone who merely memorizes proofs without caring what they are about to prove new things in their field?)

         1. elendilm · 1790006232 · focus · HN ↗

            [dead]

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