The document discusses whether mathematics is an art or a science. It notes that mathematicians pursue theorems and proofs with beauty and creativity similarly to how artists pursue new forms of art. Mathematics also differs from science in that it uses old work, while science tends to ignore older theories. Additionally, old mathematics does not become obsolete like old science. Overall, the document argues that mathematics is more like an art due to its historical nature, creative proofs, and use of previous work.
The document discusses whether mathematics is an art or a science. It notes that mathematicians pursue theorems and proofs with beauty and creativity similarly to how artists pursue new forms of art. Mathematics also differs from science in that it uses old work, while science tends to ignore older theories. Additionally, old mathematics does not become obsolete like old science. Overall, the document argues that mathematics is more like an art due to its historical nature, creative proofs, and use of previous work.
The document discusses whether mathematics is an art or a science. It notes that mathematicians pursue theorems and proofs with beauty and creativity similarly to how artists pursue new forms of art. Mathematics also differs from science in that it uses old work, while science tends to ignore older theories. Additionally, old mathematics does not become obsolete like old science. Overall, the document argues that mathematics is more like an art due to its historical nature, creative proofs, and use of previous work.
The document discusses whether mathematics is an art or a science. It notes that mathematicians pursue theorems and proofs with beauty and creativity similarly to how artists pursue new forms of art. Mathematics also differs from science in that it uses old work, while science tends to ignore older theories. Additionally, old mathematics does not become obsolete like old science. Overall, the document argues that mathematics is more like an art due to its historical nature, creative proofs, and use of previous work.
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When I first thought about this question, I took the approach that Maths was a tool and a building
block of science rather than being an actual science itself. However after doing a bit of research I was persuaded into believing that Maths proves itself to be more of an art than a science, given its historical authenticity and the creativeness that Mathematicians portray in their works. Mathematics and art have a long historical relationship. Artists have used mathematics since 4th Century BC when the Greek sculptor Polykleitos wrote his Canon in which he prescribed proportions based on the ratio 1:sqrt2 for the ideal male nude. Another Italian painter developed Euclid’s ideas on perspective in treatises such as De Prospectiva Pingendi, and in his paintings.
So why is Maths not a Science? Maths and Sciences have very different goals. The sciences seek explanations of facts and they call these explanations hypotheses and theories. The theories are often accepted just for being ‘good enough’ rather than needing to be proven to be true. Rather, they constantly amend their theories as new facts come in. Mathematicians come up with conjectures or theorems and then seek the prove these to be true. Even when a theorem is proven true, mathematicians keep seeking other proofs. Mathematics is the pursuit of a certain kind of beauty; like architecture. A building should be beautiful, but if it also has to stand up. It is also like the structured form of poetry. A sonnet should be beautiful, but it also has to follow a specific rhyme scheme and scansion. A Mathematical theorem should be beautiful, but you also have to prove it as Mathematician G. H. Hardy said: “Beauty is the first test. There is no permanent place in the world for ugly mathematics.”
Mathematicians are always seeking new theorems and more beautiful proofs of theorems, just as artists seek new forms for art and more beautiful expressions of old forms. Another way that math differs from science is that math uses old work however science tends to ignore it. Mathematicians still learn theorems like the Pythagorean theorem, even though it was known as far back as 1600 BCE. However scientists do not study Aristotles ideas of physics or chemistry. Here, again, maths is more like an art than a science as Artists will study old art, going all the way back to cave paintings analysing them. Old art and old mathematics do not become obsolete, old science does. [Peter Flom. 2021]
For me it is obvious that Maths cannot be a science as maths is the foundations of Science. Maths is a tool used to create Science and much like a baker would not be considered part of their cake, the cake would not exist without the baker. Therefore the same goes for maths and science. Betrand Russell, whose work was immensely influential in both mathematics and philosophy, echoed these feelings saying: “Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty- a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture, without appeal to any part of our weaker nature, without the gorgeous trappings of painting or music, yet sublimely pure, and capable of a stern perfection such as only the greatest art can show. [Mihai Andrei. 2023] Hence why overall I believe that Maths is an Art.
Andrei, M. (2022). What is mathematics, an art or a science? [online] ZME
Science. Available at: https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/pieces/what-is- mathematics-an-art-or-a-science/. [Accessed 20/09/23] Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Mathematics and art. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematics_and_art. [Accessed 20/09/23]
F lom, P. (2021). Why Math is an Art, Not a Science. [online] Medium. Available at: https://www.cantorsparadise.com/why-math-is-an-art-not-a-science- 94d234cacb76#:~:text=Here%2C%20math%20is%20more%20like [Accessed 21 Sep. 2023].
