Math, That Old Dragon That Eats Imagination

This article IS NOT about math

Whenever I post about math, people unsubscribe.

I get it. For most of us, math was an enemy. An invader. We have Math PTSD.

I started studying the history of math because, as I read in the history of philosophy, literature, and poetry (the things I actually enjoy) I heard an echo. Influential thinkers were often brilliant mathematicians.

In the history of the West, numbers, shapes, and music were considered paths of knowledge. Images, words, numbers, and music communicating truth beautifully that helps us live life well.

But our approach to math is broken. It is a half-too-short landing strip at a cartel’s jungle airport. It’s a good idea if you have cocaine, but a bad idea if you want to live.

Paul Lockhart, in his book A Mathematician’s Lament, writes, “The senseless tragedy known as ‘mathematics education’ continues, and only grows more indefensibly asinine and corrupt with each passing year.” (His chapter “High School Geometry: Instrument of the Devil” is worth the entire book.)

Math doesn’t eat imagination necessarily. But we’re broken.

This post only has one point, though. I’m reading a lot about math. I write to process. So, I want to apologize for any future (or past) triggering. Math need not be a dirty word. Like flatulence.

I’m discovering that you can even learn new math as an adult. And in the right hands, even wrestling with hard math can be fun.

But if I write about math and you are triggered, go to the bathroom by the band classroom and sneak a cigarette. It’s how we got through high school math the first time. I’m confident it’ll still work. (And yes, I deal with discomfort through humor. My attachment style is avoidant-dismissive.)

All that to say, sorry. Another math post is coming.