Forgiven.
Maths is a form of communication. e=mc squared communicates that energy is equal to mass times the speed of light squared.
And yes, people can be unmoved by poems. But they still understand, if not feel, the emotion embedded in it. A poem about trench warfare is going to display grief, sadness, resentment or anger.
As for the "pity" bit, need I direct you back to Nietzsche?
I don't think I understand your point? If it's that you think I'm saying English is the be all and end all, I'm not. I'm saying that it's a better medium for emotion than maths.
I suppose a sunset could be classified as art. That's separated from both English and Maths, unless you see an equation as art, or a poem as art.
I might be able to accept that it's a better medium for communicating emotion, but I'm not sure. Certain kinds of emotion, perhaps. I think you're wrong about it being cold, brute, and simple. I know you're wrong about it being purely a description of reality. Certainly, however, it is no less beautiful, inspirational, or imaginative than English. It is no less art than other languages, but I can buy that it may be a different genre.
If you think that all math is about getting an answer, you're missing out. There's a lot of value in how you get there. I doubt I'm entirely wrong in saying that the shock of seeing a beautifully elegant proof is an echo of what the author felt when they realized it themselves, for instance.
I suppose you mean as in an artist feels pride in the drawing they laboured to create, and the different artistic techniques utilised to get there. I agree with this. There is more about the journey than the destination. Again, I understand that.
But my whole point isn't that maths is inferior. It's that it has different areas than English. One does not write a love letter in equations. I do not know where I said that maths was brutal (I said it shows brute fact, not emotion. Not that the process itself was brutal.) or cold (My very first comment on this matter wasn't meant seriously.) and I know I've said the opposite of simple on a number of occasions.
Why must everything be reduced to harsh, cold maths?
The human condition is quite incalculable.
It's hardly harsh, cold math. Math isn't cold and harsh, for one. It's really quite accessible, friendly and useful for a great many things. And it's just as good of a language as any to express the facts of life and relationships. Certainly as good as English at the very least.
I wasn't being serious, but I am being serious in that it's not as good at explaining relationships. It's good at predicting outcomes. It's good at giving facts. But the written word will always surpass it in that it can connect emotionally with the reader. After all, that's what relationships are about; emotion. Maths can no more give a stirring, good expression of a relationship than pigs can fly.
My entire point is that Language is better at maths in conveying emotions, especially those pertaining to relationships. Not that one is superior over all, or inferior. I think my initial joke made it seem like I was coming in believing English is better; I don't.
Ninja'd a few times.
Dude. Clearly you have not heard of Mr. T. He was joking when he said "I pity the fool." :p
Clearly. Except...
The 'pity' bit was sincere, by the way - there's such a wealth of pure beauty out there that most people will never know... And the Yo Momma bit was just an immature joke. I'm drunk right now, please forgive me~
Author
Topic: Things that made you sad today thread. (Read 8578062 times)