Mathematics helps us think more clearly, but doesn’t tell us what to think.
Eugenia Cheng has done it again! So many brilliant insights broken down into "real talk"! Especially love how she talk about how the discipline of mathematics has carefully honed the techniques of logic. She also makes the essential distinction between being precise vs. pedantic. (Super helpful to understand if you work with engineers at all!)
A more nuanced highlight is that different subjects have different ways of accessing the truth. She makes the distinction that scientific truth is accessed by scientific method, while mathematic truth is accessed by logic. Disciplines, however, have two aspects—what is studied and how it is studied.
As with her other lovely books extolling the virtues of mathematics, one of her favorite elements is that with logic, there are clear rules so that conclusions can be drawn unambiguously and consistently. She makes the subject every more irresistible by stating that understanding math logic helps to understand ambiguity and disagreement. This provides a glimmer of hope for the predicament we find ourselves in politically and I specifically sought out the book in hopes of finding a framework for dealing with conspiracy theorists et al. Turns out that unless you’re starting from the same point (or at least one where facts matter), it’s a moot point. Non-logical methods, however, can be used to manipulate and influence people via emotions. And this, unfortunately, is where logic can’t help us—in the case of emergencies, ignorance and emotions.