Mathematics and Statistics Vol. 7(2), pp. 33 - 37
DOI: 10.13189/ms.2019.070201
Reprint (PDF) (190Kb)

An Analogy to Help Understanding Discovery, Insight and Invention in Mathematics

Ruggero Ferro ^*
Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Italy

ABSTRACT

An analogy with how life would be evolving in a town where one is moving in, may help us to understand what could be meant by discovery, insight and invention in mathematics. The relevant key common features of these two environments (life in an another town and mathematics) are: 1) the involved mental abilities to deal with the situation, 2) the realization that anything observed is contingent, 3) the discovery of the motivations of what has been done and of their influence up to the present via insight, 4) the need to understand the motivations and the manners of realization of what was done to continue the development, 5) the continuous evolution of needs and requirements that opens new problems that demand insight and invention for their solutions, 6) not every solution meets the goals and requirements with the same short range and long range convenience, thus a preventive evaluation is convenient according to criteria to be established, though a conclusive evaluation can be done only afterward. What observed will justify the support of a dynamic attitude toward mathematics and the refusal of the one claiming that everything can't be but the way it is, according to a priori mental evidence which is unduly assumed.

KEYWORDS
Mathematics, Discovery, Invention, Insight

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Ruggero Ferro , "An Analogy to Help Understanding Discovery, Insight and Invention in Mathematics," Mathematics and Statistics, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 33 - 37, 2019. DOI: 10.13189/ms.2019.070201.

(b). APA Format:
Ruggero Ferro (2019). An Analogy to Help Understanding Discovery, Insight and Invention in Mathematics. Mathematics and Statistics, 7(2), 33 - 37. DOI: 10.13189/ms.2019.070201.