The Image of the Mathematician

Abstract

During recent correspondence with Henry Alder, Secretary of the Association, expressed concern over the apparent fact, as have been able to observe the educational-industrial-governmental scene, that the image of the professional mathematician as held by American society has undergone serious deterioration in the last few years. If my observation is valid, the future demand for persons with degrees in mathematics will probably be depressed to an even lower level than that which has been anticipated. Professor Alder informed Professor John W. Brace, Chairman of the Committee on the Exchange of Information on Mathematics, of my concern. The following letter, slightly edited and published here at the request of the editor, was written as a reply to a letter which received from Professor Brace. Dear Professor Brace: appreciated your letter of March 16, for, as Henry Alder has informed you, have become greatly concerned by the nature of the image of the mathematician presently held by many members of American society. Since writing my original letter to Henry, an article has appeared in the New Yorker, written by Alfred Adler, that contains such sentences as the following: Mathematicians are often expected to manage brilliantly in the fields of business and finance. Of course, they do nothing of the kind. Their non-mathematical efforts are, on the whole, pitifully inept. The qualities embedded in the mind of the mathematician by the discipline of mathematics fail to extend beyond the boundaries of mathematics. Such comments, must emphasize, represent a very common point of view; thus one hears the question often repeated, Unless a person expects to teach mathematics, why should he study courses in mathematics beyond the most elementary ? Such a question is given support by the scientist who says, I learned my mathematics in my courses in science, and by the industrialist who says, I do not know what to do with a mathematician after employ him, for it has been my experience that he is unable to isolate and frame the problems that are to be solved. Henry Alder sent me, as you indicate, a copy of the report of the Committee of which you are the Chairman. The thesis of that report, as further stated in your letter of March 16, is that American mathematics faces a serious problem in communication.