- #31
Azael
- 257
- 1
Gib Z said:
Then I confess I read your posts wrong and I apologise. My bad. Always hard to tell on the net what someone really means.
Click For Summary
Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the perceived respect level and intellectual difficulty of physics compared to mathematics. Participants explore various perspectives on the nature of both fields, including their interrelation, the challenges of learning, and the intellectual rigor involved.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Conceptual clarification
- Exploratory
Main Points Raised
- Some participants suggest that mathematics is more general and thus harder than physics, with one stating that "general things are considered harder than special things."
- Others argue that physics requires the application of mathematical concepts, and that a strong mathematical background can enhance one's understanding of physics.
- A participant expresses a personal ranking of difficulty, placing experimental physics at the top, followed by pure mathematics, theoretical physics, and applied mathematics.
- There is a claim that mathematicians are often viewed as "smarter" than physicists due to the precision of mathematical arguments.
- Some participants highlight the subjective nature of intelligence and respect, suggesting that biases may exist depending on the field of study.
- One participant posits that self-study may be easier in mathematics than in physics, while another counters that the intuitive understanding required in physics presents its own challenges.
- There is discussion about the relationship between IQ and preference for math or physics, with a suggestion that studies could be conducted to explore this correlation.
- Several participants note that both fields can be learned independently, but emphasize the extensive mathematical knowledge required for advanced physics topics like superstring theory.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express a range of opinions, with no clear consensus on whether mathematics or physics is more respectable or intellectually demanding. The discussion remains unresolved, with multiple competing views presented.
Contextual Notes
Participants acknowledge the subjective nature of their claims and the potential biases based on their own experiences in either field. There are also references to the difficulty of defining respect and intelligence across disciplines.
Then I confess I read your posts wrong and I apologise. My bad. Always hard to tell on the net what someone really means.
- #32
Palindrom
- 263
- 0
I love this thread.
By the way, I know a different version of the 'opening joke':
Biologists think they are biochemists,
Biochemists think they are Physical Chemists,
Physical Chemists think they are Physicists,
Physicists think they are Gods,
And God thinks he is a Mathematician.
By the way, I know a different version of the 'opening joke':
Biologists think they are biochemists,
Biochemists think they are Physical Chemists,
Physical Chemists think they are Physicists,
Physicists think they are Gods,
And God thinks he is a Mathematician.
- #33
Gib Z
Homework Helper
- 3,341
- 7
ROFL That one is completely hilarious :P And no need to Apologize Azael, its all good :).
Similar threads
- · Replies 36 ·
- · Replies 12 ·
- · Replies 19 ·
- · Replies 102 ·
- · Replies 3 ·
- · Replies 16 ·
Undergrad
Physical Meaning of Atomic Oscillations
- · Replies 11 ·
- · Replies 30 ·
- · Replies 5 ·
High School
Why people find math/physics incomprehensible
- · Replies 17 ·