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Manfred comments on [LINK] "The nirvana would be if the questions raised by Oprah Winfrey would be answered by the faculty at Harvard." - Less Wrong Discussion

2 [deleted] 31 January 2012 04:32PM

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Comment author: Manfred 31 January 2012 08:28:03PM 2 points [-]

The answer always comes back: 'The point of mathematics is to prove interesting things, not build things.' I can't help but think 'No. It can't be!' Imagine if you applied that question to other areas – is the purpose of civil engineering to prove interesting things about bridges?

So, sort of familiar, but not backed up by the same specifics, or even intent. Also, more passive aggressiveness.

Comment author: grouchymusicologist 31 January 2012 08:41:12PM 3 points [-]

That quote is kind of awesomely terrible. Sure, as everyone knows, all fields of human endeavor have exactly the same kind of purpose!