The Art of Mathematics

To the common man, there is little justification for theoretical Mathematics. It is confounding to see the stereotype of white haired men with spectacles immerse themselves in a realm so apart from reality, it borders on fanaticism. After all, what use does the ability to divide by zero provide to this world? Does it matter that the roots of 1 sum to zero?

And yet these men persist; loyal followers of this ancient cult, if you wish to call it so. Those brave enough could argue this to be a religious doctrine, after all, it is, even at its worst, as correct as many other religious men find their own doctrines to be.

The audacity to question the significance of a mathematician is found in many, but few have the patience to listen to an answer. Mathematics has few practical uses beyond what is taught in schools and universities. Why then does the mathematician persist?

Defence is therefore due to correct this naïve perception of a subject maligned with negative connotations. Justification has already been given before me, by mathematicians greater than me, albeit with one distinction; I write this in the midst of my career, rather than at the end of it. This distinction is important because I write this with enthusiasm rather than envy of a career gone by. If one is wondering what difference this makes, one only needs to open Hardy’s Apology, where the pretentiousness can be seen at the very beginning of his argument:

The arrogance is a natural result of being associated with Cambridge but it is a shame that an argument of one’s own defence begins by belittling the jury, an act any respectable lawyer fighting any case would advise against. A child who appreciates Mathematics does not possess a “second rate mind” (if there does exist a scale for measuring so). Curiosity is the currency of Mathematics; it provides the fuel to navigate the unknown.

But I digress.

Subtracting the embedded superiority complex, the crux of his argument holds true. There is no “need” for theoretical mathematics (as opposed to “engineering mathematics”) just as there is no “need” for art. And yet we do both.

It exists purely to allow expression and interchange of intellect, to allow like minded people to come together and discuss a common interest, reminiscent of an exhibition where every equation is simply a portrait of its discoverer. The beauty in Mathematics lies in the elegance of a solution.

And like art, it gives us a reason to live.