- #1
Group_Complex
- 81
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Hello guys. Some of you might remember my posts regarding the talent required to become a pure mathematician. I have done much introspection as of late, and I keep coming to the conclusion that I am not enjoying "Pure" mathematics as much as I thought I would. I originally became interested in science by thinking about physics and the nature of reality (I could not stop asking "why" as a child). In high school however, I developed a sense of mathematical elitism, I was good at mathematics (at least I thought I was at that stage) and came to believe that mathematics was the highest form of knowledge. This was in no doubt also a result of reading the writings of G.H Hardy, Bell and other mathematians who have admonished the applied aspects of mathematics.
Though I find developing a physicial intuition challenging, I am finding theoretical physics much more enjoyable than my Purer courses (Real+ Complex Analysis, Group theory). I do enjoy pure mathematics, but sometimes I find myself sitting with an abstract mathematical text infront of me, wondering "why am I doing this?". I find mathematics beautiful, but I am not sure if I could devote my life to working in Pure Mathematics. I still feel that going into theoretical physics is taking the easy way out, that Mathematicians will scoff at me for the rest of my life (There is a certain elitism amonst even Pure Math undergraduates). I also feel that a Mathematician will understand more Physics than a Theoretical Physicist will understand Pure Mathematics (I am not sure if this is correct, but It is a fear of mine). Edward Witten is very mathematical for instance, and I would like to work in a similar field, but I fear that this would result in me ending up in a mathematics department working in pure mathematical fields.
I want to go into the field which gives me the most "understanding", or the ability to ask "why?" as much as I can. I feel that Theoretical Physics is a field which interests me, but that it is also only applied mathematics, using tools developed by mathematicians, whereas the mathematician is the one who "Understands" what is going on. I feel like going down the Physics path would turn me into a hack who simply calculates using equations developed by mathematicians... If Physics is the science that models the universe, is not mathematics the field which explains Physics?
Sorry for the ramble. Any help would be appreciated.
Though I find developing a physicial intuition challenging, I am finding theoretical physics much more enjoyable than my Purer courses (Real+ Complex Analysis, Group theory). I do enjoy pure mathematics, but sometimes I find myself sitting with an abstract mathematical text infront of me, wondering "why am I doing this?". I find mathematics beautiful, but I am not sure if I could devote my life to working in Pure Mathematics. I still feel that going into theoretical physics is taking the easy way out, that Mathematicians will scoff at me for the rest of my life (There is a certain elitism amonst even Pure Math undergraduates). I also feel that a Mathematician will understand more Physics than a Theoretical Physicist will understand Pure Mathematics (I am not sure if this is correct, but It is a fear of mine). Edward Witten is very mathematical for instance, and I would like to work in a similar field, but I fear that this would result in me ending up in a mathematics department working in pure mathematical fields.
I want to go into the field which gives me the most "understanding", or the ability to ask "why?" as much as I can. I feel that Theoretical Physics is a field which interests me, but that it is also only applied mathematics, using tools developed by mathematicians, whereas the mathematician is the one who "Understands" what is going on. I feel like going down the Physics path would turn me into a hack who simply calculates using equations developed by mathematicians... If Physics is the science that models the universe, is not mathematics the field which explains Physics?
Sorry for the ramble. Any help would be appreciated.