The construction of (other parts of) mathematics from set theory is a very important lesson in reductionism.
So important, in my view, that it outweighs the disadvantages of set theory that you often hear people complaining about.
I don't agree. Math is not made out of sets in the same way that matter is made out of atoms. In terms of reductionism differential equations are more fundamental than sets.
Did computer programming make you a clearer, more precise thinker? How about mathematics? If so, what kind? Set theory? Probability theory?
Microeconomics? Poker? English? Civil Engineering? Underwater Basket Weaving? (For adding... depth.)
Anything I missed?
Context: I have a palette of courses to dab onto my university schedule, and I don't know which ones to chose. This much is for certain: I want to come out of university as a problem solving beast. If there are fields of inquiry whose methods easily transfer to other fields, it is those fields that I want to learn in, at least initially.
Rip apart, Less Wrong!