4 ms·
As a math major who went to grad school in CS theory, I find the article's title vexing. It projects a faux dichotomy of computer scientists v. mathematicians w
by kiyoto 12y ago
As a math major who went to grad school in CS theory, I find the article's title vexing. It projects a faux dichotomy of computer scientists v. mathematicians when, in reality, it's mathematicians v. mathematicians.
Many areas of computer science, at least the areas in which Leslie Lamport is best known, is a strongly mathematical discipline inspired by models of computing. Dr. Lamport probably considers himself as a "computer scientist", but I bet it is really far from what many laypeople (even the HN crowd) imagine to be computer scientists.
Another issue is, mathematicians have as much to do with mathematical pedagogy in secondary education as computer scientists have to do with science experiments in high school. Again, the title is really misleading in this regard.
Anyway, I am glad that a great mind like Leslie Lamport and David Mumford (definitely a mathematician) are thinking hard about how to make math education better.
- vilhelm_s 12y ago> Dr. Lamport probably considers himself as a "computer scientist", but I bet it is really far from what many laypeople (even the HN crowd) imagine to be computer scientists. Sure, but I guess he is also really far from what most mathematicians imagine to be mathematicians.