Beauty in Mathematics

Beauty in mathematics

For many people, mathematics is an enigma. ‘Characterised by the impression of numbers and calculations, it is often accompanied by feelings of rejection and disinterest, and is believed to be strictly rational, abstract, cold and soulless’. Beauty, on the other hand has something to do with emotion, with feelings, and with life. It is a sense that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure or satisfaction. Many people think that subjective phrases such as ‘beauty’ have no connection with terms as objective as ‘mathematics’. Mathematics is all about logic, calculations and proofs, whereas the art, which is closely related to beauty, are more emotional and creative. From a personal experience as a student, I have seen many students who feel maths is not their department or a cup of tea and hate it. Art on the other hand, is admired by everyone. So, how can one of the most hated subjects be linked to the one that is loved by the most? Does this mean that there is nothing to do with beauty and mathematics?

Since the ancient times, many mathematicians have shown a keen insight to illustrate a relation between mathematics and arts. Mathematicians think that they derive aesthetic pleasure from their work and so try to express this pleasure by noting mathematics as beautiful. In the words of eminent mathematician and philosopher, Bertrand Russell, ‘Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty -- a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture, without appeal to any part of our weaker nature, without the gorgeous trappings of painting or music, yet sublimely pure, and capable of a stern perfection such as only the greatest art can show. The true spirit of delight, the exaltation, the sense of being more than Man, which is the touchstone of the highest excellence, is to be found in mathematics as surely as poetry.’[1]. He regarded mathematics as, ‘the most exalted form of art'.

Many mathematicians studied the...