Learning is any change in a system that produces a more or less permanent change in its capacity for adapting to its environment.
Herbert SimonRead
Mathematics is a language. We want scientists to be able to read it, speak it, and write it. But we are are not training them to be grammarians.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Mathematics is essential for scientists, but the focus should be on understanding and application rather than just rules.
In this quote, Herbert Simon emphasizes that mathematics serves as a fundamental language for scientists, enabling them to read, articulate, and document their ideas effectively. However, he warns against overly fixating on the formal rules of mathematics, akin to a grammarian's focus on linguistics, advocating instead for a broader understanding that prioritizes practical usage and comprehension over rigid adherence to technicalities.
Themes
MathematicsLanguageEducationScienceUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a mathematics seminar discussing the importance of math in scientific research.
More from Herbert Simon
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The proper study of mankind is the science of design.
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What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it.
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