About this episode

Alon Amit discusses the multifaceted nature of mathematics and its relationship with art and science.

Alon Amit addresses the various facets of mathematics. Is it an art or a science? Both? Neither? Is it invented or discovered? Why is math that's developed for purely aesthetic reasons so often a useful tool for the real world? He likes that there are not simple, one-way answers. He challenges the listeners to post questions to Quora that surprise and delight him.

People in this episode

Host: Carol Jacoby

Guest: Alon Amit

Topics covered

• mathematics
• art
• science
• philosophy
• aesthetics
• discovery
• invention

Keywords

• mathematics
• art
• science
• discovery
• aesthetics
• philosophy
• real world applications

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• Proofs and Buckets of Fish · February 25, 2026 · 15 min
• Fractals: Simple rules, complex shapes · January 28, 2026 · 15 min
• Will AI Replace Mathematicians? · March 26, 2025 · 20 min
• The National Museum of Mathematics · February 26, 2025 · 18 min

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