I'd agree with your thinking - beyond practical uses and the practical need for a functional democracy to have thinking citizens, knowledge enriches human life.

I'd agree with your thinking - beyond practical uses and the practical need for a functional democracy to have thinking citizens, knowledge enriches human life. What was a bit surprising to me was how contrarian the author was willing to be publicly. Unless he's just messing with his colleagues and readers, and perpetuating the status quo where the minority who can use math generally make a better living than those who can't.