A mathematician is a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat which isn't there.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- This quote critiques mathematics as a futile search for something that may not exist.
- In plain terms
- It compares math to searching for a non-existent object.
- What can you take from it?
- It questions the practical value of abstract mathematical pursuits.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is math useful if it seems abstract?
- What makes a search worthwhile?
Another view
Many find deep value in abstract math despite apparent futility.
More from Charles Darwin
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but rather the one most adaptable to change.
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