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Feynman: 'Greek' versus 'Babylonian' mathematics

TehPhysicalist · lecture · Watch on YouTube

Pure mathematicsScientific method & science communicationFundamental physics

What it is

A clip of Richard Feynman contrasting the Greek and Babylonian traditions of mathematical reasoning. It compares the axiomatic approach of mathematicians with how physicists use mathematics.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN cites it when discussing how math should be learned and taught, and why physics isn't built from axioms.

  • 2 people recommended it
  • 1 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2015, last 2023

What HN commenters said

  1. “Here's a helpful video from Feynman that kinda explains it”

    Greek vs Babylonian mathematics mapped onto language styles

    asgard1024, 2015-09 · Recommendation · in “Bruce Eckel announces he's going to write Atomic Python”

  2. “Feynman was an excellent communicator”

    The original Feynman lecture segment itself

    nerd_stuff, 2015-09 · Recommendation · in “Feynman the Babylonian (2009)”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: feynman, babylonian mathematics, axioms, physics vs mathematics, learning math

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