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Re: FWIW: interesting quote from Ted Kaczynski
Posted:
Jan 8, 2013 6:37 AM
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david petry <david_lawrence_petry@yahoo.com> writes:
> On Monday, January 7, 2013 3:58:58 PM UTC-8, Jesse F. Hughes wrote:
>> david petry <david_lawrence_petry@yahoo.com> writes:
>
>
>> > "Meanwhile, I was doing well in mathematics. It was fun to solve
>> > mathematical problems, but in a deeper sense mathematics was boring
>> > and empty because for me it had no purpose. If I had worked on applied
>> > mathematics I would have contributed to the development of the
>> > technological society that I hated, so I worked only on pure
>> > mathematics. But pure mathematics was only a game. I did not
>> > understand then, and I still do not understand, why mathematicians are
>> > content to fritter away their whole lives in a mere game. I myself was
>> > completely dissatisfied with such a life."
>
>> > Ted Kaczynski, from a letter to a Turkish anarchist named Kara
>
>
>> Well, to each his own, right?
>
>
> Not really. Certainly pure mathematicians can play their games in a place where it is appropriate to play games.
>
> If we accept falsifiability as part of the underlying logic of
> mathematics, then mathematics is definitely not merely a game; it is a
> science, and it has a vitally important role to play in our
> technologically advanced society. I wanted to study the foundations
> of mathematics from that point of view. It appears that the pure
> mathematicians don't think I should be studying that while I'm in the
> universities they control. So, I must say that I think those pure
> mathematicians don't belong in the publicly funded universities of a
> free society.
Does it bother you that you're criticizing the behavior of
mathematicians while approvingly quoting a mad bomber?
In any case, I don't know that mathematicians are trying to stop you
from researching math in the manner you like. Oh, if you want a degree
in math, then you'll have to show that you've mastered the topics of
mathematics and this includes a familiarity with classical set theory.
Sorry, just the way it goes. Just like the creationist biologist is
likely to be required to know a bit about evolutionary theory in order
to get a degree.
But do whatever research you want.
And leave others to do the same.
--
"You can do 'math' until you drop dead, but if you're wrong, you're
still wrong, and the world will keep on turning regardless. Heaven
will not open up and God shout at you to stop, you'll just live in
error until one day you die." -- A James S. Harris self-reflection
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