[FOM] Math Depth/Maddy

Nick Nielsen john.n.nielsen at gmail.com
Fri Aug 15 19:57:01 EDT 2014


 Harvey Friedman wrote:
>
>> I have never heard mathematicians talk directly about what good
>> mathematics is in any kind of generality.

What about G. H. Hardy's famous apologia?

http://www.math.ualberta.ca/mss/misc/A%20Mathematician%27s%20Apology.pdf

This discussion takes place on a high level of generality in its
discussion of generality, depth, unexpectedness, and inevitability.

There is also Russell's essay, "The Art of Drawing Inferences,"
although Russell has less title to being called a mathematician than
Hardy.

Best wishes,

Nick


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