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International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

176050

The phenomenology of mathematical beauty

Gian-Carlo Rota

pp. 121-133

Abstract

Whereas painters and musicians are likely to be embarrassed by references to the beauty of their work, mathematicians enjoy discussions of the beauty of mathematics. Professional artists stress the technical rather than the aesthetic aspects of their work. Mathematicians, instead, are fond of passing judgment on the beauty of their favored pieces of mathematics. A cursory observation shows that the characteristics of mathematical beauty are at variance with those of artistic beauty. Courses in "art appreciation" are fairly common; it is unthinkable to find any "mathematical beauty appreciation" courses. We will try to uncover the sense of the term "beauty" as it is used by mathematicians.

Publication details

Published in:

Rota Gian-Carlo, Palombi Fabrizio (1997) Indiscrete thoughts. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 121-133

DOI: 10.1007/978-0-8176-4781-0_10

Full citation:

Rota Gian-Carlo (1997) The phenomenology of mathematical beauty, In: Indiscrete thoughts, Dordrecht, Springer, 121–133.