The (Ir?)Rational Fear of Mathematics
Let’s not delve into the cliche of extolling the beauty of mathematics and berating those who fear it for being irrational. I won’t be speaking like mathematical geniuses to whom quantitative abstract thinking came naturally when they were like four. The truth is, fearing any subject is not entirely baseless; it’s human. Mathematics, in particular, seems to evoke trepidation, not because it’s inherently scary but perhaps due to its peculiar mode of expression and the abstract nature of symbols and notations. Reflecting on my own relationship with mathematics, I can say I don’t fear it now. Yet, I can vividly recall the torturous thoughts it induced when I first encountered some of the concepts. Over time, the apprehension diminished not because mathematics changed its inherent nature but because I gradually became more accustomed to its intricacies.
This apprehension isn’t exclusive to mathematics alone; it extends to many sciences and beyond. The issue lies in how we learn these subjects in a formal education setting. The disjointed presentation often obscures the interconnectedness of concepts. In reality, many ideas evolve through multiple failed attempts and revisions by researchers from various fields over decades, if not centuries. Expecting to accept it all gleefully in a two-hour lecture is akin to landing in the 100th episode of season 5 of a TV show without having seen the preceding seasons and episodes. There’s no shame in feeling afraid. It should be scary. Imagine finding yourself amid a complex plot without having witnessed the buildup. The goal is to acknowledge the absurdity, training our minds to move back and forth in this intricate setting through reason and gaining knowledge, filling up the gaps and hence becoming a part or perhaps even an active contributor to a process greater than life and the living.
When we think of mathematics, our minds often imagine complicated equations and symbols, almost akin to witchcraft. Yet, if we delve deeper, we realize it’s just another language — much like English. It has rules (akin to grammar), fundamental components expressed through notations (like words), and the creative freedom to use these to communicate ideas. Regardless of the natural language in which a mathematics textbook is written, the equations remain constant. It highlights mathematics’ power as a universal language, efficiently communicating ideas quantitatively and globally. When we start viewing mathematical notations as words and equations and expressions as sentences, it becomes less alien, resembling any other language. The intimidation, however, persists, rooted in the abstract ideas it conveys and the inherent complexities of quantitative thinking.
The abstraction in mathematics is often deemed unnatural and disconnected from the real world. But consider this: even the simple words we use are abstractions of real-world objects, and the sounds often lack any logical relation to the entities they represent. Humans have always found ways to abstract the real world for communication. It’s when this abstraction ventures into the unknown that it becomes unsettling.
Mathematics, in this respect, commits the ‘crime’ of having fewer restrictions. Beyond a set of basic rules, it relies entirely on deductions, delving as deep and abstract as one’s thoughts allow. This freedom, however, comes at the cost of giving up on immediate real-world associations many times. The beauty lies in the fact that such abstract thinking, sometimes seemingly divorced from reality, might one day explain what’s unknown today. However, mathematics is not just a tool designed solely for the real world or its future, waiting to be useful someday. It’s a language of ideas expressed quantitatively, governed by rules that allow boundless exploration. When current rules fall short, we might have to refine or add onto them carefully without running into contradictions. It’s a venture in itself — an exquisite set of ideas expressed efficiently and precisely. Mathematics transforms our qualitative understanding into quantitative reasoning, deriving and communicating patterns and associations, often also aiding in making the world a more logically manageable place to be in.
