Tuesday, August 12, 2008

The Language of Science

Can you tell me what this is?





And this?





Maybe this...?




I know you can tell what this is.



Yes, this is called a house. The three others also meant the same thing, but in a cryptic form that people call language.

Now take science. Science today has grown too complex for it to be expressed like a story in books. That is why it needs a common language. That is the need of the hour. But before you start saying that humans have not done enough to find this common language, it is already there, probably as long (maybe longer?) as science itself. People call it mathematics, but I prefer to call it the language of science.

Imagine where science would be without it. Just imagine. If you look around yourself, there is mathematics in everything. Everything without exception.

So why is it then that people are afraid of this beautiful language? I often find people doing engineering say, "Ah! At last all my maths papers are over." This is rubbish, especially so when it comes from a to-be engineer. People must learn to love this language rather than hate it.

I could consider that I have justified my life on Earth only when I look at a partial differential equation and visualize the phenomenon that it represents without any need for explanation. It is only then that I may consider myself anywhere close to being literate. A literate of this language of science.

P.S:

1. Sorry to people who know Norwegian, Japanese or Arabic.

2. I really don't know the purpose of this post. Just felt like I had to write it.

8 comments:

Shera said...

I never have seen a person with this much passion for mathematics... You sound different...:-)

Srinath S said...

Mathematics is really a wonderful language. As you start to understand it properly it is as if you start to understand the workings of the world around you...

But I got only a 'B' grade in all four semesters :P But I don't care as long as I see the real maths. :)

You have a functioning blog?

Shera said...

haha.. To hell with grades.. you know pretty well how we get our grades!!:-)Forget it..
I do had a blog.. But didn maintain it properly.. Perhaps after seeing yours i think i ll make tat one really functioning..! Sorry for the late reply..

Shera said...

Guess u missed to read a comment on ur first blog!!:0

Srinath S said...

Yes sorry, I didn't read your comment in the first post. As I said everyone is interested in many things... I happen to have interests in certain things too. Nothing more to it. I am not worthy of all the adjectives that you use. Just another fellow :)

True I am reserved. I feel more comfortable to be part of a conversation rather than to start one. I am a shy person and like my privacy.

And BTW I sleep 8-9 hours everyday :) More than anyone in our class, I am sure.

Neeru Iyer said...

I got alternating Bs and Ds, but I love the subject still.

Srinath S said...

BTW Neeraja akka... Where is your blog? I couldn't view your profile.

Neeru Iyer said...

THIS way, you'll get to see my blog! :)