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What do you even mean with talent? Specifically when it comes to mathematics, that is. Some astrological alignment of circumstance such that someone can realize

What do you even mean with talent? Specifically when it comes to mathematics, that is. Some astrological alignment of circumstance such that someone can realize their potential unimpeded by their economic class, physical or mental health status, abilities in the language of instruction, lack of interest in the material, or innumerable other such challenges? Or are you referring also to some eugenicist fantasy of a person whose neurochemistry/physiology happens to be optimized for that specific subset of human activities that we call mathematics? The latter assumes the former, since if such a thing exists, you can be sure that external factors would limit such a person's ability to succeed in traditional settings. In either case, I don't understand why such a notion would be useful to anyone except as a justification for gatekeeping and maintaining a culture of elitism in math, which is very much not needed. I'm genuinely curious as to why you find the concept useful

username90 6y ago
If you have enough talent for maths you can get good results in every maths course up to graduate level without studying or doing practice problems outside of just listening to classes. I know I did that, so I know it is possible. I don't particularly like maths courses, I just took a lot of them since they were free credits. Is this useful information for how to treat typical students? No. However, talent having such a profound impact on peoples ability to learn, understand and apply mathematics is something most people are aware of and hence it isn't strange that people who studied maths thinks that genius requires inborn talent. The author of this piece instead takes a jab at it and tries to say that they just believe that since they got told by their parents that they were smart, I don't think that is true. Most people studying maths doesn't view themselves as good at maths, so what is more likely is that they take their own struggles despite hard work and passion as evidence that genius requires inborn talent.
- randcraw 6y ago
  So for you, there was a royal road to math? No homework necessary? If so, you're one in a billion. It's no wonder you don't share the perspective of others who must practice in order to learn.
  - username90 6y ago
    It wasn't that I didn't need practice, its just that the practice you get from sitting and listening in classes and doing problems in exams was enough practice. It wasn't as if I could just go to the exams without doing anything else. The trick was mostly that most things just clicked for me, and I could use that to figure the rest out and fill in the gaps during exams to solve the problems they didn't explain in any classes.

username90 6y ago

If you have enough talent for maths you can get good results in every maths course up to graduate level without studying or doing practice problems outside of just listening to classes. I know I did that, so I know it is possible. I don't particularly like maths courses, I just took a lot of them since they were free credits. Is this useful information for how to treat typical students? No. However, talent having such a profound impact on peoples ability to learn, understand and apply mathematics is something most people are aware of and hence it isn't strange that people who studied maths thinks that genius requires inborn talent. The author of this piece instead takes a jab at it and tries to say that they just believe that since they got told by their parents that they were smart, I don't think that is true. Most people studying maths doesn't view themselves as good at maths, so what is more likely is that they take their own struggles despite hard work and passion as evidence that genius requires inborn talent.

randcraw 6y ago
So for you, there was a royal road to math? No homework necessary? If so, you're one in a billion. It's no wonder you don't share the perspective of others who must practice in order to learn.
- username90 6y ago
  It wasn't that I didn't need practice, its just that the practice you get from sitting and listening in classes and doing problems in exams was enough practice. It wasn't as if I could just go to the exams without doing anything else. The trick was mostly that most things just clicked for me, and I could use that to figure the rest out and fill in the gaps during exams to solve the problems they didn't explain in any classes.