Re: Sociological/Psychological Phenomenon

From: Mailman (mailman_at_anonymous.org)
Date: 06/01/05 

Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2005 00:27:22 +0200

On 31 May 2005 08:15:33 -0700 "Pubkeybreaker"
<Robert_silverman@raytheon.com> wrote:

> I am curious about something.
>
> What is it about math and crypto that makes an amateur
> believe that he/she can actually come up with a new theorem
> or algorithm that has somehow been miracuously missed by
> large numbers of previous (or current) mathematicians???
>
> I am sure that these same people would not post their ideas
> for (say) a new neuro-surgical technique. They do recognize
> that they have no competence.
>
> What is it about math in particular, as opposed to other
> technical fields of knowledge, that amateurs are unable to
> recognize their lack of competence? People are certainly
> able to recognize that they know nothing about surgery.
> Why do they fail to recognize the same thing with regard to
> their mathematical knowledge?
>
> We also see the same thing in sci.physics-- Amateurs (and cranks)
> who post their own (mostly mistaken) 'ideas'. These people
> do not seem to similarly pollute medical newsgroups.
>
> Clearly these people are looking for fame for solving some famous
> problem. But they do not seem to look for fame by (say) semi-serious
> efforts to cure disease.... They know they lack skills for the latter.

Your comparison doesn't really work. There is an essential difference
between mathematics and surgery - namely that surgery requires
practical, hands-on training and experience before it can be performed
competently. Mathematics is a purely abstract endeavor that can be done
by anyone. Just consider the fact that you find wunderkinder in only
three areas that I know of: music, chess and mathematics.

Even worse for your case: quite a few major theorems were discovered by
completely unknown or obscure people, some of which were not even
professionals (Fermat was a lawyer, Newton was a priest and alchemist)
and some of which were extremely young (Galois was 19 when he died,
Lebesgue revolutionized the field with his doctor's thesis). Sometimes
even formal education of any kind is not necessary (Ramanujan), and
sanity can be dispensed with (Cantor).

Finally, it seems to be the distinguishing mark of many amateurs that
they are unable to recognize their incompetence. This happens in all
professions I know of (watch carefully the mechanics the next time you
take your car for service and you'll see what I mean). The real question
is: are _you_ competent enough to tell the bumbling amateur from the
brilliant mathematician? For my part I hope we won't dismiss out of
hand the next Gauss or Hilbert just because they posted on this group. 

-- 
Mailman
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