Vladimir_Nesov comments on Creating The Simple Math of Everything - Less Wrong

12 Post author: Matt_Simpson 20 July 2009 10:45PM

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Comment author: Vladimir_Nesov 23 July 2009 10:43:34AM *  1 point [-]

While I also don't see the point in the enterprise, and think many of the specific suggestions misguided, you misinterpret its intent. Read the original post for an explanation. The point isn't to learn math "in a simple form", but to explain some of the most important facts about the world with at least a bit of mathematical rigor and expressive power.

Comment author: SamAdams 23 July 2009 03:36:38PM -1 points [-]

Oh I get it. I would make the same point either way especially when the idea comes from a non math person. Whenever a non math person says this kind of thing it should make anyone who has done their due diligence cringe.

If you can't do the math so for the physics if partial differential equations are beyond you then you shouldn't be talking about physics. There are many fields where knowing the "drop-dead" math is not sufficient to qualify one to talk about it.

Now I know you will all vote me down, I am rocking the boat.

Comment author: Vladimir_Nesov 23 July 2009 04:18:48PM 1 point [-]

Do you expect a person to end up worth off as a result of learning about some subject to less than certain level of detail? If it's better to learn a little than not at all, it's probably better to learn a few facts written in math than no facts written in math at all. It seems that you have to agree with one or the other.