23 Comments
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Heinz Robert's avatar

I hated math in school and was always mediocre in it. Later I started to love this kind of mathematical order in art, graphic design, music and even in nature. I am still more the "over the thumb" guy :D and I wonder what would have happened if our math teachers would have made us the numbers more tasty with showing us the beauty of a golden ratio, an oriental ornament, or the musical scales.

Seeker of Eden and Yggdrasil's avatar

This is wonderful.

I'm glad I subscribed.

Blessings.

Kelly Alvin Madden's avatar

I have an obsession over the relationship between the numbers 6 and 7.

(Predating, please note, the current popular... whatever it is.)

https://km678.substack.com/p/why-work

https://km678.substack.com/p/the-meaning-of-the-number-6

https://km678.substack.com/p/why-rest

Lawrence Christian's avatar

Wonderful article/reflection!

Barbare Mindiashvili's avatar

Great reading! Thanks!

The Legal Mind Amplified's avatar

If you also believe the Bible, every time God gave instructions for something to be built in his name, He gave exact measurements

and instructions even on materials to be used. I have always found this fascinating.

Brian J Cooper's avatar

This reminded me of the use of fractals in some post-modern literature, especially in David Foster Wallace, and the New Sincerity movement seeking out some order beyond the marrowless modernism.

Graeme Outerbridge's avatar

Because it’s beautiful^^

O.W_Lancs's avatar

I could have done with knowing this while I struggled with Algebra as a 14 year old. This is a good reason for it!

Katherine Rossing's avatar

Going to share this with my creative kids who “hate math”

It clicked for me as I was reading that perhaps no coincidence that so many creative minds have an aversion to math. If they harnessed it's power, think of how beautiful the world could be. Of course the evil one can't have that…. What a clever stumbling block to put in their way, no?

The AI Architect's avatar

Fantastic articel. The connection from Pythagoras to medieval cathedrals to Tolkiens creation myth makes the case that mathematical thinking isnt just a tool, its a way of attuning to deeper patterns. I've always noticed how modern buildings feel hollow compared to gothic architecture, and thi explains why. When structure follows inner expression instead of external order, we lose that sense of participaton in something bigger. The Goethe quote about frozen music nails it.

Christine Mako's avatar

Never heard math explained so beautifully 😍 It is really more than 'solve for x'. It's 'solve for GOD'!

Daryl Poe's avatar

Thank you for your perspective, great essay.

C. E. J. Brenna's avatar

“math says that you are beholden to an external standard of infinite beauty and order.” Could you actually support this claim? Because it’s rather obscure.

Gerald Brennan's avatar

Yes, elaborate, please.

Willow ~ Interviewing Angels's avatar

I have always said that there is music in everything ever since I was a little girl. Sometimes I swear I can hear it.

I enjoyed this piece, I couldn't help thinking about how our education system is becoming more utilitarian rather than designed to create spiritually developed human beings. It is similarl to how our buildings likewise are becoming strictly functional instead of beautiful. Which you so beautifully talked about in the piece about why humans need beauty. It is a thought provoking concept...