Shyan's Share: Mathematics & Human Flourishing
- jeanne7629
- Jan 12
- 1 min read
Updated: Jan 20
From Shyan: Francis Su is a Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College in California. In 2017 he gave an address as the President of the Mathematical Association of America where he explores interesting ideas around the human-side of doing mathematics, and ponders what moves people to engage with it. Even though the discussion is centered on mathematics, the ideas he explores are far more general, pondering the philosophy surrounding virtue in quite a unique way, and touching on ideas of how we can find value in ourselves, independent of the work we do. I find this speech interesting because it angles mathematics and humanism from perspectives I do not usually see discussed.
If you would prefer reading a transcript, see here [https://mathyawp.wordpress.com/2017/01/08/mathematics-for-human-flourishing/].
If you would prefer watching a (very blurry) video, see here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEtDvc1SWm8].
If you end up liking the ideas here and want to see a more thorough discussion of virtue in this context, check out his book Mathematics for Human Flourishing [https://bookshop.org/p/books/mathematics-for-human-flourishing-francis-su/bf364759ff4f7f08].
Loved this one Shyan, thank you for sharing. Su definitely made me think again about mathematics and I agree with your comment that the ideas and concepts reach far further than the single field of mathematics. So interesting!