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There are many things competing for people's time and attention. Why should I learn this is a valid question when you have several dozen other potential things

by spion 4y ago

There are many things competing for people's time and attention. Why should I learn this is a valid question when you have several dozen other potential things you're looking at learning.

epgui 4y ago
While that's true, in practice I have not found that people tend to spend their time learning other unfamiliar things-- rather, they often either waste their time, or spend their time learning things they are already somewhat familiar with. There's nothing wrong with that, but going outside the comfort zone is how you maximize perspective. In other words, it's pretty much completely impossible to convince someone that it would be really worth their time to learn more maths (eg.: calculus, linear algebra, whatever)... The only way they'll see the practical value of doing so is if they actually do it.
- spion 4y ago
  Yes, I think there is a culture in mathematics where people believe this to be the case, and I think its not correct. I can think of several ways to motivate software engineers to learn more category theory (e.g. "did you know that MapReduce is basically an application of monoids?" or "did you know you can solve fast document layout updates with monoids?"). One thing I wonder about though. You say "curiosity" - can you explain what this means to you? Why are you curious about a certain concept? There are thousands of things to learn in the world - are you curious about all of them?
  - epgui 4y ago
    I think I use "curiosity" in the usual sense of the word, but perhaps what I mean by it is also coloured by my experience. There are a number of subjects I used to really have zero interest in when I was younger (chemistry, accounting, law, finance, economics...), and in each instance I eventually realized how valuable time spent learning the subject was. After this happened a few times, I began paying closer attention to when I felt disinterested by some academic topic. I don't think I've felt "uninterested" by any academic topic in years, so I suppose maybe I am curious about it all.

by spion 4y ago

There are many things competing for people's time and attention. Why should I learn this is a valid question when you have several dozen other potential things you're looking at learning.

epgui 4y ago

While that's true, in practice I have not found that people tend to spend their time learning other unfamiliar things-- rather, they often either waste their time, or spend their time learning things they are already somewhat familiar with. There's nothing wrong with that, but going outside the comfort zone is how you maximize perspective. In other words, it's pretty much completely impossible to convince someone that it would be really worth their time to learn more maths (eg.: calculus, linear algebra, whatever)... The only way they'll see the practical value of doing so is if they actually do it.

spion 4y ago
Yes, I think there is a culture in mathematics where people believe this to be the case, and I think its not correct. I can think of several ways to motivate software engineers to learn more category theory (e.g. "did you know that MapReduce is basically an application of monoids?" or "did you know you can solve fast document layout updates with monoids?"). One thing I wonder about though. You say "curiosity" - can you explain what this means to you? Why are you curious about a certain concept? There are thousands of things to learn in the world - are you curious about all of them?
- epgui 4y ago
  I think I use "curiosity" in the usual sense of the word, but perhaps what I mean by it is also coloured by my experience. There are a number of subjects I used to really have zero interest in when I was younger (chemistry, accounting, law, finance, economics...), and in each instance I eventually realized how valuable time spent learning the subject was. After this happened a few times, I began paying closer attention to when I felt disinterested by some academic topic. I don't think I've felt "uninterested" by any academic topic in years, so I suppose maybe I am curious about it all.