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Download fileBeauty is not simplicity: an analysis of mathematicians' proof appraisals
journal contribution
posted on 2015-04-10, 10:46 authored by Matthew InglisMatthew Inglis, Andrew AberdeinWhat do mathematicians mean when they use terms such as 'deep', 'elegant', and 'beautiful'? By applying empirical methods developed by social psychologists, we demonstrate that mathematicians' appraisals of proofs vary on four dimensions: aesthetics, intricacy, utility, and precision. We pay particular attention to mathematical beauty and show that, contrary to the classical view, beauty and simplicity are almost entirely unrelated in mathematics.
Funding
This work was supported by a Royal Society Worshipful Company of Actuaries Research Fellowship.
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