4 ms·
As an experiment, I took a few paragraphs and replaced the words "software", "software and programming", "programming" with the word "mathematics" and replaced
by itazula 12y ago
As an experiment, I took a few paragraphs and replaced the words "software", "software and programming", "programming" with the word "mathematics" and replaced the word "programmers" with "mathematicians":
Most of the problems of mathematics arise because it is too complicated for humans to handle. We believe that much of this complexity is unnecessary and indeed self-inflicted. We seek to radically simplify mathematics.
and
Much complexity arises from how we have partitioned mathematics into boxes: <put various branches of mathematics here>; and likewise how we have partitioned mathematics development: <put various phases here, from "Eureka" moment to copy-editing of proof>. We should go back to the beginning and rethink everything in order to unify and simplify. To do this we must unlearn how to do mathematics, a very hard thing to do. (I paraphrased by replacing the original "to" with "how to do".)
and
Revolutions start in the slums. Most new mathematics platforms were initially dismissed by the experts as toys. We should work for end-users disenfranchised by lack of mathematics expertise. We should concentrate on their modest but ubiquitous needs rather than the high-end specialized problems addressed by most R&D. We should take inspiration from end-user tools like <replace with your favorite tools, like pen-and-paper, whiteboard, abacus>. We should avoid the trap of designing for ourselves. We believe that in the long run expert mathematicians also stand to greatly benefit from radical simplification, but to get there we must start small.