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> The truth is far simpler. Mathematicians are solving puzzles, and some of those puzzles don't come from the real world at all, and can't be motivated in that
by chetanahuja 11y ago
> The truth is far simpler. Mathematicians are solving puzzles, and some of those puzzles don't come from the real world at all, and can't be motivated in that way.
The real question the "outsiders" are asking are not because they deeply care why you (the "pure" mathematicians) spend your time any particular way. The real question behind the question is why should the larger society support this endeavor (by way of research grants, universities etc.. things which are mostly funded out of public funds at large). And it's not unique for mathematicians either.... all academics have to face that question at some point.
- rivalis 11y agoNot always. Sometimes "outsiders" just want some kind of insight as to why you do what you do all day; they're curious. A mathematician interested in engaging with the public has to try and identify which question is being asked. It's actually slightly dangerous to assume that your interlocutor is only interested in utility, because this type of answer can come across as disingenuous or dismissive. I don't think that whenever someone asks an artist or writer what the "point" of their work is that they're looking for a justification for allocating public funds to it. They might want that, but they also might want some kind of insight into or identification with the intrinsic motivation for the work.