Review of the Socratic Dialogue: Mathematics Rightly Viewed, Possesses Not Only Truth but Supreme Beauty
"Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty"
A frosting winter day. A dusk is coming. A student is walking down the river, trying to catch the last sparks of the sun reflecting on the smooth surface of the water. He is holding a camera in his hands as well as the sketchbook. Suddenly , an old man comes out of the blue from the forest. He quickly recognises the boy and seems to be puzzled about his presence in the woods.
Man:
Good evening, Peter. Shouldn’t you be at school, young man? It’s Monday today, and as I remember you ought to finish lessons at 6 p.m..
Student:
Good evening, master. Well… yes, I have a lesson right now.. but I have decided not to go to math class and take some photos of this beautiful, pristine landscape. When I saw the snow falling down in the morning I could not cease myself from doing so. It is quite unusual weather as for our region isn’t it?
Master:
Yes, it is. But still, Mathematics should not be neglected by you, boy. Trust me, the beauty of Mathematics is as valuable and important as nature. Moreover, it is strictly bound with each other, and there is no power which will be able to separate them.
Student:
The beauty of nature or art is something much more important and realistic for me then Mathematics. I must disagree with you Master. I don’t see anything in this subject, that could be perceived by me as beautiful. Maths consists only of numbers and symbols.
The Master sits down on the rock, inviting his student to join him.
Master:
Sit down here, Peter. Instead of learning Maths at school, you will learn right now, that Maths possesses not only truth in its calculations but also supreme beauty. I am not astonished by your prejudice to Maths – how could you cherish and understand this subject without knowing its beauty?
Student:
It sounds like I am oblivious to the importance of mathematical abilities. Where in fact, can I find them,
A frosting winter day. A dusk is coming. A student is walking down the river, trying to catch the last sparks of the sun reflecting on the smooth surface of the water. He is holding a camera in his hands as well as the sketchbook. Suddenly , an old man comes out of the blue from the forest. He quickly recognises the boy and seems to be puzzled about his presence in the woods.
Man:
Good evening, Peter. Shouldn’t you be at school, young man? It’s Monday today, and as I remember you ought to finish lessons at 6 p.m..
Student:
Good evening, master. Well… yes, I have a lesson right now.. but I have decided not to go to math class and take some photos of this beautiful, pristine landscape. When I saw the snow falling down in the morning I could not cease myself from doing so. It is quite unusual weather as for our region isn’t it?
Master:
Yes, it is. But still, Mathematics should not be neglected by you, boy. Trust me, the beauty of Mathematics is as valuable and important as nature. Moreover, it is strictly bound with each other, and there is no power which will be able to separate them.
Student:
The beauty of nature or art is something much more important and realistic for me then Mathematics. I must disagree with you Master. I don’t see anything in this subject, that could be perceived by me as beautiful. Maths consists only of numbers and symbols.
The Master sits down on the rock, inviting his student to join him.
Master:
Sit down here, Peter. Instead of learning Maths at school, you will learn right now, that Maths possesses not only truth in its calculations but also supreme beauty. I am not astonished by your prejudice to Maths – how could you cherish and understand this subject without knowing its beauty?
Student:
It sounds like I am oblivious to the importance of mathematical abilities. Where in fact, can I find them,