A Mathematician’s Apology (Or Why Do We Study Math?)
One might assume that the earliest mathematics was developed as a practical necessity. However, both of the course texts point to very early examples of mathematics that seem to be an exploration of mathematics for its intrinsic interest.
Many Platonist’s thought that practical applications for mathematics were of little interest. Pure thought was considered to be nobler. From then on, theoretical mathematicians have often argued that applications were not “real” math and applied mathematicians have counter-argued that mathematical ideas stem from observations of real things and return to real applications.
Read A Mathematician’s Apology , by G. H. Hardy:
Also read
• “Why Study Mathematics?” , an essay by Sam Nelson, and
• “Why Do We Study Calculus?” , an essay by Eric Schechter
View Why Mathematics?
What do you think? What is mathematics? Why is the study of mathematics worthwhile? Is it justified to deem one branch of mathematics (pure or applied) as more worthwhile than the other?
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