Re:Self-Taught Mathematician; an Impossibility?
by GuB-42 on Saturday May 04, 2019 @07:37PM
(#19830098)
Reading the article, the issue doesn't seem to be that math is particularly hard compared to other STEM fields.
Rather, to be productive in maths, you need a really high level. Before your PhD, chances is that you can't do something meaningful in the field. It means that your degree is the only proof of your level.
So the idea is : you can teach yourself maths but in the order to become a working mathematician, you need to do it all the way up until the end, with little help besides books.
Contrast with programming, after a few weeks, you will be able to write working software, maybe get an internship or even a low level job. You can then work your way up. You don't have to be at the top just to start working or make meaningful contributions.
Re:Self-Taught Mathematician; an Impossibility?
by cosmodisk on Saturday May 04, 2019 @08:01PM
(#19830207)
Even a monkey can write a simple program, that's easy. However, to come up with something unique in computer science field, can easily take decades of study and research.
Rather, to be productive in maths, you need a really high level. Before your PhD, chances is that you can't do something meaningful in the field. It means that your degree is the only proof of your level.
So the idea is : you can teach yourself maths but in the order to become a working mathematician, you need to do it all the way up until the end, with little help besides books.
Contrast with programming, after a few weeks, you will be able to write working software, maybe get an internship or even a low level job. You can then work your way up. You don't have to be at the top just to start working or make meaningful contributions.