What is it really like to be a mathematician?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the experiences and perceptions of being a mathematician, touching on the emotional and psychological aspects of mathematical work. It includes reflections on the challenges faced by mathematicians, the nature of problem-solving, and personal anecdotes related to the pursuit of mathematics as a career or passion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants reference Alexandre Borovik's perspective on the struggles and emotional toll of being a mathematician, describing it as a cycle of chaos and brief moments of joy.
  • One participant shares a personal anecdote about the exhausting nature of mathematical problem-solving, likening it to addiction.
  • Another participant expresses a love for reading about mathematicians and scientists, indicating an interest in their personal stories.
  • A participant reflects on their own happiness with mathematics, questioning whether they should pursue a professional career in the field despite feeling misunderstood by others.
  • Some comments express a mix of appreciation and ambivalence towards the realities of mathematical life, with varying interpretations of Borovik's insights.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of feelings about the nature of being a mathematician, with some resonating with the challenges described while others focus on the joy of mathematics. There is no clear consensus on whether the emotional struggles outweigh the rewards or how one should navigate a career in mathematics.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes personal reflections and subjective experiences, which may not represent a universal experience among mathematicians. There are varying interpretations of the emotional aspects of mathematical work and the decision to pursue it professionally.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in the personal experiences of mathematicians, those considering a career in mathematics, or anyone curious about the emotional landscape of mathematical problem-solving may find this discussion relevant.

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Alexandre Borovik wrote a really wonderful http://www.maths.manchester.ac.uk/~avb/pdf/WhatIsIt.pdf" on this topic, as a comment and aid in the problem of developing the next generation of creative mathematicians in the UK, his adopted country. He takes a hard cold look at the realities, as indicated by this passage:

Mathematicians are sometimes described as living in an ideal world of beauty and harmony. Instead, our world is torn apart by inconsistencies,
plagued by non sequitur, and worst of all, made desolate and empty by missing links between words, and between symbols and their referents; we spend our lives patching and repairing it. Only when the last crack disappears, are we rewarded by brief moments of harmony and joy.
And what do we do then? We start to work on a new problem, descending again into chaos and mental pain. We do that to earn the next fix of elation. Maybe this truth is not for public consumption, but many (and some of the brightest) mathematicians are “problem-solving” analogues of gambling addicts and adrenalin junkies.

My best PhD student once complained to me that she was exhausted, because for two weeks, she awoke every morning with a clear realisation that she continued to think about a problem in her sleep. She was a real mathematician. Where can we find more students like her?

This sure resonates with me; in the course of writing my abortive Ph D thesis I generated and proved several good theorems, and oh! it was hard! Not just difficult, but wracking. As the man says, junkies.

If you lke his style, you can read Alexandre Borovik's blog at http://www.maths.manchester.ac.uk/~avb/micromathematics/ .
 
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Thank you!

I like to read about these things. I'm a big fan of biographies of mathematicians and/or scientists.
 
Yeah, sweet!

Watch this from his blog for a laugh: http://www.maths.manchester.ac.uk/~avb/micromathematics/2006/10/maths-lesson_06.html#links
 
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refreshing (or depressing) read, feel affinity no matter, thanks!
 
Thanks for that!
 
I m trying to be a mathematician or i m already one ,i feel happy good with mathemtics regardless of career with math , it s my daily life , i feel good when i solve a problem .but it looks to some people i m sad i have a sad face ,am i going wrong spending time on math ,things that bring me my proper happiness ?do i have to move onto professional fields ? I have been trying to solve that question since long.it means if you choose math assume the rest
 

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