3 ms·

The subject you’re looking for is philosophy of mathematics. Here’s a good place to start [1]. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for certainty you won’t find it

The subject you’re looking for is philosophy of mathematics. Here’s a good place to start [1]. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for certainty you won’t find it there. Philosophy of mathematics is fascinating but studying it will give you more questions but few answers. One advantage of studying that I will vouch for is that you’ll learn that most of the arguments you had were already thought of many years ago. [1] https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/philosophy-mathematics/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/philosophy-mathematics/

xanderlewis 3y ago
Yes! I am aware of PoM, just surprised so many mathematicians are seemingly disinterested. This is also a lovely, very readable, book on the subject: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262542234/lectures-on-the-philosophy-of-mathematics/ https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262542234/lectures-on-the-philo...
- chongli 3y ago
  I think most mathematicians are uninterested in PoM because their interest in math comes from an aesthetic impulse and a problem-solving drive. In short, they like math because it’s beautiful and challenging, and challenging problems are fun for them to solve. They may also be motivated by prestige, to varying degrees, though I think mathematicians are fairly low on the prestige-valuation scale (viz. Grigori Perelman). Though I enjoy PoM myself, it actually feels a bit weird to wonder why mathematicians don’t care about it. To me, it’s like wondering why chess grandmasters don’t seem to care that chess is a fictional game and not real warfare.
  - xanderlewis 3y ago
    > it actually feels a bit weird I won’t argue with that. :-) > it’s like wondering why chess grandmasters don’t seem to care that chess is a fictional game and not real warfare You’re exactly right. That is why I will never be a chess grandmaster!

xanderlewis 3y ago

Yes! I am aware of PoM, just surprised so many mathematicians are seemingly disinterested. This is also a lovely, very readable, book on the subject: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262542234/lectures-on-the-philosophy-of-mathematics/ https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262542234/lectures-on-the-philo...

chongli 3y ago
I think most mathematicians are uninterested in PoM because their interest in math comes from an aesthetic impulse and a problem-solving drive. In short, they like math because it’s beautiful and challenging, and challenging problems are fun for them to solve. They may also be motivated by prestige, to varying degrees, though I think mathematicians are fairly low on the prestige-valuation scale (viz. Grigori Perelman). Though I enjoy PoM myself, it actually feels a bit weird to wonder why mathematicians don’t care about it. To me, it’s like wondering why chess grandmasters don’t seem to care that chess is a fictional game and not real warfare.
- xanderlewis 3y ago
  > it actually feels a bit weird I won’t argue with that. :-) > it’s like wondering why chess grandmasters don’t seem to care that chess is a fictional game and not real warfare You’re exactly right. That is why I will never be a chess grandmaster!