A History of Ideas cover image

Why Are Things Beautiful?

A History of Ideas

CHAPTER

The Beauty of Mathematics

Vicki Nell says beauty is the first test, there's no place for ugly mathematics. We sometimes see things we consider beautiful symphonies or paintings as very complex and yet people in mathematics will talk about something being very beautiful because simple. In a way, if you imagine an artist trying to sketch the line of beauty, what they do is they rub out all the ones that weren't right but can see the one that's just perfect.

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