Consider the view that mathematics possesses not only truth, but also

supreme beauty

For centuries, much of our understanding of the world has been conveniently cleaved into
two poles the Mathematicians as opposed to the Romantics; the empirical world view as
opposed to the emotional world view; the logical, mathematical mind as opposed to the
creative, artistic mind. These dichotomies have pervaded and subtly influenced our
modern lifestyles it seems that mathematics is for the studious; art and the humanities
are for the spirit. These two dimensions of the human existence seem immiscible,
irreconcilable even. This rift has left mathematics relegated to a position analogous to the
position occupied by a kitchen knife in the kitchen it is cleanly efficient in serving a clear
purpose, but once its purpose has been served, it is quickly sheathed and stowed away.
There is none of the appeal possessed by an ornately decorated piece of cutlery, for
instance. However, I believe that mathematics not only serves a practical purpose, but
possesses a supreme and profound beauty to the appreciative mind.

To the cynical eye, mathematics may appear to lack beauty, for it is unforgiving. The study
of mathematics is characterised by the dogged desire to prove a fixed outcome. The world
of mathematics is necessarily binary, where every response is either right or wrong. This
departs significantly from common perceptions of beauty, which is inclusive and accepting
of varied responses. Moreover, mathematics appears highly esoteric, drawing only the
appreciation of the most cerebral. Hence, some might argue that mathematics lacks the
inherent, intrinsic appeal many a work of beauty possesses. Finally, many critics have
lamented that mathematics is stripped bare, devoid of ornamentation or decoration that
breathes life and beauty into human creations. By dint of this austerity in aesthetic appeal,
it cannot be said to be beautiful.

However, such accusations are little more than misrepresentations and misinterpretations
of what mathematics entails. Within the realm of mathematics, there are many possible
ways to interpret a question, and accordingly, many possible ways to arrive at an answer.
This allows for diversity in thought to pervade mathematics. Moreover, the beauty of
mathematics lies in its universality it is democratic and catholic. Mathematics is
fundamentally built upon a priori reasoning, which means that a thinking brain is the only
apparatus needed to enter the enigmatic world of mathematics. The study of modern
physics, in contrast, demands billions of dollars of investment before any real findings can
be made, as evinced in CERNs construction of the Large Hadron Collider, which cost a
hefty 1.2 billion Euros. The notion that anyone, armed with just pen and paper, can make
groundbreaking discoveries previously hidden from mankind is not only truly fascinating,
but also a testament to the universal allure of mathematics. This concept of accessibility
has long been fundamental to the nature of beauty truly beautiful creations are easily
appreciated and accessed by the common man. This is best illustrated in the case of
music. With a few mere years of musical education, many of us are able to pry open the
world of musical geniuses, reproducing the most imposing of Beethovens symphonies, the
most soothing of Chopins nocturnes, or the most jovial of Mozarts sonatas in their full
glory. By virtue of their accessibility, these masterpieces have been etched into the halls of
eternity, a shining star of beauty amidst our quotidian lives. Similarly, the accessibility of
mathematics has allowed it to touch and inspire the lives of many, magnifying its beauty
tremendously.

Beyond this, mathematics is a common language that transcends the labyrinth of culture
and language, expressing ideas without a shred of ambiguity. The articulation of
mathematics in a common language a lingua franca, if you will allows for people to


convey ideas in their original, preserved form across time and space. While the modern
reader may never know exactly what Shakespeare had in mind when he wrote Macbeth,
people today have no doubts about Newtons intentions when he proclaimed that force is
equal to mass times acceleration, despite living in a very different age today. Amidst the
tides of ever-changing social norms and linguistic nuances, the lingua franca of
mathematics stands proudly as a firm, unmoving sculpture, a distillation of the undiluted
brilliance of great geniuses before us. Indeed, there is great beauty to be had in the
eternal.

Furthermore, where some people may see harshness in the laconic nature of
mathematical expression, a deeper analysis will reveal that in conciseness lies great
elegance. Supreme beauty is conveyed not with excessive ornamentation, but with
profoundness in simplicity of expression. Beautiful and well-written poems do not contain
any measure of superfluous words; musical masterpieces do not force in more notes for
the sake of achieving complexity in performance; truly sublime paintings do not contain
any more brush strokes than are needed to portray their subjects. Instead of condemning
the concise nature of mathematics for being bare and unrefined, we should appreciate the
beauty of being able to encapsulate great truths in a short series of unassuming numbers
and letters. Every word of Maxwells four equations on electromagnetism is crucial to our
understanding of this otherworldly force, allowing for a few mere letters to harness a great
power. Adding more layers of decoration and opulence is a simple task anyone with
sufficient resources can undertake; cutting back and preserving only what is necessary, on
the other hand, is the true crucible of a beautiful mind.

However, a nagging question persists what distinguishes mere beauty from supreme
beauty? Beauty is defined by sensuous enjoyment; it is simply anything that pleases the
senses. Supreme beauty, however, serves a deeper purpose it seeks to empower
mankind, elevating humanity from an uninspired existence that is solely driven by the
pursuit of a cornucopian utopia. Mathematics achieves this, by placing man in a position of
omnipotent authority. Man reigns supreme within the realm of mathematics we are free
to define the boundaries of this virtual world, and lay down axioms of truth upon which
greater truths might be discovered. There are no limitations within the world of
mathematics mathematicians are empowered with the ability to dream up concepts and
realities such as multiple dimensions which cannot be perceived in the physical world we
live in. In many cases, the pursuit of supreme beauty is accompanied and harmonised by
the pursuit of subverting physical limits, expressing mankind as the triumphant party in the
feuding battle between man and his environment. Architecture presents many examples of
such a struggle to overcome the constraints of natural forces. Brunelleschis attempt to
build Santa Maria del Fiore the largest dome built in the world embodied this desire to
rebel against gravity, casting physical boundaries aside in the pursuit of supreme beauty.
Notably, Brunelleschis architectural tour de force was achieved only with a close
application of mathematical concepts. Brunelleschi utilised a revolutionary brick layering
technique that took advantage of geometrical concepts to distribute the weight of the dome
evenly, preventing gravity from foiling his architectural marvel. Hence, mathematics has
clearly entered the world of sublime, supreme beauty, for it uplifts man to be the master of
his environment, a position from which mankind can create boundless and unrestrained
beauty.

Perhaps the true mark of supreme beauty, ironically, is that we are never made aware of
its existence a supremely beautiful creation achieves its purpose efficiently and simply,
never attracting unnecessary attention. As mathematics quietly serves its purpose, solving
problem after problem, it may be easy for it to fade into the background, losing its beauty


in the eyes of the masses. This is a great pity. Against the backdrop of the cacophony of
dissenting and clashing voices that has become commonplace in the modern world order,
sometimes what we should treasure most as beautiful is not the divergence in thought
among the arts, but rather the austere simplicity of mathematics that reassuringly tells us
that one plus one is always two.