Applied mathematicians must discard their finest ideas for failing to match reality
Evidence
‘Imaginary’ universes are so much more beautiful than this stupidly constructed ‘real’ one; and most of the finest products of an applied mathematician’s fancy must be rejected, as soon as they have been created, for the brutal but sufficient reason that they do not fit the facts. — G. H. Hardy, A Mathematician’s Apology, 270
Categorization
- DEFINE: Explains why applied math’s need to fit empirical facts structurally constrains its aesthetic freedom, which is the heart of Hardy’s apology’s reasoning.
- corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — G. H. Hardy, A Mathematician’s Apology, 270
- XREF: connects to: Physical reality fails to match common sense, while mathematical reality does not — G. H. Hardy, A Mathematician’s Apology, 262; Purely mathematical theories can gain unforeseen practical applications — G. H. Hardy, A Mathematician’s Apology, 265; By the utilitarian test even great mathematicians wasted their lives — G. H. Hardy, A Mathematician’s Apology, 271 (+2 more)
Library Connections
- Mathematics offers its practitioners refuge from a mad world
#complicates(0.50) — G. H. Hardy, A Mathematician’s Apology, 281 - Pure mathematics cannot be turned to warlike purposes
#complicates(0.35) — G. H. Hardy, A Mathematician’s Apology, 277