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The big question is: why is government (or society) funding mathematics? What justifies this use of resources? If it's utility, then why doesn't AI deliver ut
by pfdietz 4mo ago
The big question is: why is government (or society) funding mathematics? What justifies this use of resources?
If it's utility, then why doesn't AI deliver utility? Isn't this an argument for AI?
One can expand this to various kinds of utility. Is knowing mathematical statements are true useful? In the ability to produce proofs useful? Does being able to prove carry over to other kinds of reasoning? Is producing a cadre of math-capable people useful in wartime? Is national prestige of value? There's a pro-AI reading of all these.
It it's beauty not utility, then why isn't math funding over with art funding, along with hills covered with acres of fabric, motorized embalmed animal carcasses, and religious symbols in bottles of urine?
- lambdacity 4mo agoIt's R&D. If you've listened to machine learning, it's heavily based around manifolds, statistics, linear algebra, learning theory, etc. All of which were once pure math. The entire field of cryptography is built up on number theory, a field which famously a major contributor chose because it could never be useful [for war].
- pfdietz 4mo agoYes, those are utility arguments. So don't we get more utility if AI now spews out lots of new math results?