Al6200 2009-02-12 23:36:12

"You have to be one of the first people I've ever met who really loves math"

I'm not sure quite how it happened. I think it started when I learned ActionScript, and realized that math could actually be used to do real things.

I also really enjoyed differential equations and vector calculus. There are just a lot of neat things that you can do with mathematics that you wouldn't think possible. For example, you can represent the rotation of a moving object or collection of objects as the arrow (vector) perpendicular to the direction of the objects motion and the direction of the rate of change of the object's motion. It's nothing I would've came up with, but it's pretty neat when you think about it.

Also, differential equations are pretty cool, because you can study systems where velocity is related to acceleration and position and vice versa, like:

acceleration + velocity + position = f (in fact springs follow a similar equation)

The way I see it, it is calculus going full circle. And it is very interesting.

"I remember being the only person in my class creeped out by Euler's Formula"

I don't think that it's unusual to be creeped out by Euler's formula. In fact, in early modern Europe some scholars decided that imaginary numbers were witchcraft, and that the mathematicians who created them were possessed by demons.

The only math that has ever scared me was

"I've never heard it used as proof of God though, can you explain?"

Euler's formula is not really a "rigorous" proof of God. It's just that it's so bizarre and (to some people) beautiful that it suggests that our universe was designed by some higher power.

I mean, if you say that theta is equal to Pi, then:

e^(Pi * i) = -1

which is quite amazing when you think about it. If you put together the three strangest numbers in the world, you get a plain old negative one.

Al6200 2009-02-14 00:01:43

To be honest I've always had an interest in neuroscience, but it seems like everyone who actually studies neuroscience becomes a brain surgeon. And I can't become a brain surgeon because I really don't think that well on my feet, and I inherited a condition where my hands shake. It makes it really, really hard to solder circuits together. And since I usually end up frying some wire or IC or something, would you really want me fixing your brain?

And was that hardest math class differential equations? It seems like the hardest math class for non-math majors is Calculus III, the calculus of series and sums.

Al6200 2009-02-14 05:52:28

"I'm not sure I agree that Axiom 1 isn't just a capitalist axiom. Most liberals don't just dish out everything you want, just make it more accessible providing you are willing to out perform others for the water. Sure it gives people some welfare backing, but i view that as 1) a way to level the playing field and 2) to break any mans fall from grace. "

Oh, I support a social support network, ideally through a negative income tax. But I don't see that as being exclusive with conservatism.

"The rest of the axioms all seem to be axioms for democracy. "

I don't think that a democratic system is sufficient for preserving freedom.

"And whilst I agree that people advance technology for private enterprise and prestige, this is not conservative. It seems to me like you make an argument for democratic capitalism, slip in a clause that says conservatism thinks we need to maintain the current social structure and conclude that democracy+ the urge to compete= conservatism."

I'd define conservatism as the philosophy that technological progress is not enough, and that it is not always good. I don't think conservatism is "Everything that the right-wing or Republicans stand for".

"Maybe spend a little more time showing the importance of maintaing the current social structure if you have to make an argument for conservatism, and showing what you believe to be the flaws in leveling the playing field."

Perhaps, eugenics was the only major example I used to show that technological progress is not a sufficient condition for creating a "good" society.

Al6200 2009-02-16 21:27:15

"Oh man, the demand for neuroscience has shot unbelievably high in recent years. Scientists are now tackling the mysteries of the human brain in ways that were unimaginable just fifteen to thirty years ago. There are dozens of different fields of research, and one needs not be a neurosurgeon to dominate in most of them."

This is interesting. Do you use Matlab at all? I know that that has a neural network simulator that is really cool.

"I actually majored in mathematics. "

Wow. Yeah, I've thought about doing a double major with electrical engineering and mathematics, but it would be incredibly difficult. The thing is that right now I'm taking tensor calculus and linear algebra, and both of those topics are really quite interesting to me.

"Only about 50% of the accepted applicants to med school are biology majors, with the rest spread out over the other majors. Sure, lots of people thought biology would be helpful for med school, but it isn't. The core biology classes I took with my major were more than enough; a major in it (judging from what the curriculum is and from what I heard in med school) is simply overkill."

Yeah. I remember CellarDoor talking about how classics was a strong background for medical school.

"Truthfully, med school doesn't care what you majored in, because you'll learn everything you need when you're there. Due to this, what they really look for are students who are great students and prove themselves to be the best of the best."

I remember reading this a while ago, and I wondered why someone couldn't just go to a 5 year medical school program right out of high school, where the first year is just the core biology and chemistry that one would normally get from an undergraduate degree. It seems like that would be a lot cheaper and more efficient.