 Mathematics: The Monstrous Science
Mathematical anxiety. Ever heard of it? What about math phobia? Does it ring a bell? It sure does for me. Even the word mathematics gives me goosebumps. I do not like math. I never have and probably never will. I don't know why. It's not that I suck at it, really. I actually do quite well. Of course I'm no John Nash, but I know what two plus two equals. So why do I want to dig an underground tunnel to get out of a math exam every single time? Is it because I am scared? Maybe. Still, though, it makes no sense. They say that mathematics is the only universal language that all human beings share regardless of history, culture, race or religion. That can't be true, because I'm a language student, and I love or wait, I adore languages. I'm somehow fascinated by their very existence. So how come I don't feel the same way about mathematics? I've also heard numerous times that we use the same part of our brains for both math and language. So if you are good at languages does this mean that you are also very good at math? Believe me, that's impossible, try going out to lunch with six language students and paying Dutch style. You will understand what I mean.
“All creative people hate mathematics. It's the most uncreative subject you can study,” says Sir Alec Issigonis. It's true that it is a fairly limited area of study, but this doesn't necessarily mean that mathematicians are uncreative. Probably after some point they start hating math, too. Besides someone has to be super creative to create problems for entertainment purposes. Just think about it. In the world of a mathematician, everything probably seems so perfect, predictable and safe that you have to come up with your own problems, and you know what the best part is? There is always a solution to your problem, unlike most of the “real” problems that we face. Oh, and do you know what my personal favorite is? In the world of mathematics you can have positive infinity, x equals positive infinity. Doesn't that just make you happy? What's the solution to global warming? It's positive infinity! Hooray!
Here is another thing. When we take the whole world population into consideration, it would be bold to say that the majority of the world population is literate in at least one of the world languages. However, virtually all human beings possess the ability to be “literate” in math, the universal language. This numbers literacy is called numeracy, and it goes way back. Some even say that the world is set on mathematics. When you think about it, we actually come face-to-face with basic mathematics in our daily lives. While cooking, buying groceries, while trying to find out how long it will take for us to get somewhere, et cetera. No wonder life's this hard!
There is one thing that really amazes me. I know few people who are truly, mathopaths. They are, how should I put it, different. Different in the way Picasso was. It's as if they live in a different universe than ours. They see everything around them as symbols, numbers or functions. They are in some twisted way, artists. So I've figured that Mathophiles are also great fans of abstract expressionism. They must be. After all, what can be more abstract than math itself, with its imaginary and surreal numbers and thats probably why I have difficulty in understanding these people. Darwin and I seem to be on the same page/ He says, “A mathematician is a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat that isn't there.” Its called abstract-math for a reason!
By now there are probably people who think that I'm some sort of lunatic for not understanding how wonderful math is. That is, of course, if they haven't stopped reading this article after the second paragraph, but I also know that there are those who have similar feelings for this monstrous science (just kidding) and I'm sure they understand me. I'm also positive that they know that there is no real escape from it no matter how hard you try. To cope with it, I have tried to come up with something I like related to mathematics, and I found that I really like counting down. I'm guessing it comes from my love for hide and seek. Do the same. Try to find something you love in something you hate. It really does help, for instance maths will help me end this article by counting down from 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1. to infinity and beyond.
By Eda Erdem (TRIN/IV)
a_erdem@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
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