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I think the “primitive” skill closest to the kind of mathematical thinking an astrophysicist (or mathematician) employs would be advanced knotwork. Mental geome
by Robotbeat 5y ago
I think the “primitive” skill closest to the kind of mathematical thinking an astrophysicist (or mathematician) employs would be advanced knotwork. Mental geometric/topological/spatial manipulations are key to clever insights and critical to figuring out knots.
(This can be taught to/learned by some chimpanzees, BTW. …but I think there are no such examples in the wild without substantial human contact.)
- cratermoon 5y agoMusic. There was a time when arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music were all considered essential, and most importantly, interrelated, mathematical arts, taught as the Quadrivium. Today we teach arithmetic to first graders, or earlier, start learning basic geometry in grade school and get the full course on geometry around 7th or 8th grade. Music, of course, is not part of "STEM" and is no longer considered a valuable thing to learn, and astronomy, if it's taught at all, tends to be "here is the sun, the moon, and planets. Memorize this mnemonic for the names for the planets: My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas. Whoops, I mean Just Served Us Noodles", and most people who go into astronomy don't really get courses on it until they enter college.