Original Creations

Unlike several mathematicians whom I know (and who shall remain nameless), I have this curious belief that there is more to life than mathematics.

Whew. We barely avoided the penalty for uttering heresy. Not being one to learn from experience when I can avoid it, I'm now going to compound my felony.

Some time ago, I taught a freshman honors seminar called Truth, Culture, and Mathematics. I tried to make a number of points during the course of the semester, among them being

• Mathematical objects are not real, at least not in the way that ordinary physical objects are real.
• Mathematical statements are not objectively true (unless they are tautologies).
• Nevertheless, it is possible to have meaningful conversations about mathematical objects, and to agree that some of the statements we make about those objects are true.
• Hence, there must be something about mathematical objects (and statements about them) that exists outside an individual's consciousness.

What struck me most strongly about this seminar was the firmness with which students were attached to the notion of relativism. They had no trouble disbelieving in the existence of mathematical objects, nor in disbelieving in the objective truth of mathematical statements. They didn't think anything could be objectively true. They were convinced that all statements were expressions of opinions; that all points of view were equally valid; that it was literally impossible to compare two things and say truthfully (in an absolute sense) that one was better than another.

They're wrong.

I can understand their point of view. It has strong support, particularly in the academic community. But some statements really are true. Some things really exist. Some actions really are just. Some creations really are beautiful. And some things really are better than others.

Here are some examples.

• Michelangelo Buonarotti was a better sculptor than I am.
• Pierre Auguste Renoir was a better painter than I am.
• Ludwig von Beethoven was a better composer than I am.
• e. e. cummings was a better poet than I am.
• William Shakespeare was a better playwright than I am.

Fortunately for me, I'm a better mathematician than any of them.

There is one final point that I'd like to make. Each of the individuals I used in my examples created some beautiful works of art. I know that I can't hope to match any of their creations. That knowledge hasn't stopped me from making my own creations. If you're interested, you can take a look at some of my poetry, my pictures, my photography, and my music.

[Work] [Bioinformatics] [Mathematics] [Life]

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