It is spiritual poverty, not material lack, that lies at the core of all human suffering.
Paramahansa YoganandaRead
This attitude [the abstract method in mathematics] can be encapsulated in the following slogan: a mathematical object is what it does.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the functional nature of mathematical objects, suggesting that their identity comes from their utility and actions.
Timothy Gowers highlights a perspective in mathematics where the definition of a mathematical object is rooted in its function or role in operations, rather than merely its physical or abstract representation. This viewpoint encourages a pragmatic approach to understanding mathematics, focusing on what these objects can accomplish in various contexts rather than solely their theoretical properties.
Themes
MathematicsFunctionalityAbstractionPhilosophyUtility
In practice
Example use cases
A lecturer may use this quote to illustrate the importance of understanding mathematical functions in a classroom.
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