How abstract mathematics can help us understand the world | Dr Eugenia Cheng | TEDxLondon
TLDRThe speaker, a pure mathematician, explores the application of abstract mathematics to understand and navigate social issues. Using the example of the factors of 30, they illustrate how mathematical structures can be applied to concepts like privilege, revealing hierarchies and interactions that exist within society. The talk emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding in recognizing different levels of privilege and encourages the use of mathematical thinking to foster cooperation rather than conflict.
Takeaways
- 📚 The speaker uses abstract mathematics as a tool to understand and navigate complex social issues.
- 🔢 The concept of factors of numbers is introduced as a metaphor for understanding the interplay of different types of privilege.
- 📈 The script presents a visual model, comparing the hierarchy of factors to a hierarchy of privilege, to illustrate the nuanced distribution of societal advantages.
- 👥 It emphasizes that privilege is not a binary concept but exists on a spectrum with varying degrees and combinations.
- 🤔 The speaker encourages empathy and understanding by considering the perspective of others, using the mathematical model as a guide.
- 💡 The model helps explain why some individuals, like poor white men, might feel marginalized despite being part of a privileged group.
- 🌐 The script suggests that abstract thinking can be applied to different contexts, such as gender or wealth, to understand privilege dynamics.
- 👩👧👦 The importance of recognizing and including non-binary identities in discussions about privilege is highlighted.
- 🤝 The speaker advocates for cooperation and mutual understanding over competition and conflict in societal interactions.
- 🌟 Abstract mathematical thinking is presented as a means to foster empathy and bridge divides in social discourse.
- 🌱 The script concludes with a call to action for individuals to apply abstract mathematical concepts to better understand and empathize with others.
Q & A
What is the speaker's profession and how does it relate to their perspective on understanding the world?
-The speaker is a pure mathematician. They relate their profession to understanding the world by using mathematical thinking to help them understand arguments, empathize with others, and navigate complex social dynamics.
Why does the speaker choose abstract mathematics as a tool to make sense of the world's divisive arguments?
-The speaker chooses abstract mathematics because it provides a structured and logical way to analyze and understand complex social issues, allowing for a more nuanced and empathetic approach to divisive arguments.
What is the significance of the factors of 30 in the speaker's analogy?
-The factors of 30 serve as a starting point to illustrate how mathematical relationships can be applied to social concepts. The speaker uses the factors to create a visual representation of hierarchical relationships, which is then abstracted to represent different types of privilege.
How does the speaker transform the concept of factors into a representation of social privilege?
-The speaker abstracts the concept of factors by replacing numbers with letters (a, b, c), which can then represent different types of privilege. This abstraction allows for the application of mathematical relationships to understand the interactions and hierarchies of privilege in society.
What is the purpose of the 'family tree' or 'cube' diagram in the speaker's explanation?
-The 'family tree' or 'cube' diagram is used to visually represent the hierarchical relationships between different factors or types of privilege. It helps to illustrate how privilege can be layered and interact in complex ways, and how the loss of one type of privilege can be represented.
How does the speaker address the misunderstanding of privilege in society using the cube diagram?
-The speaker uses the cube diagram to clarify that privilege is not a binary concept and that individuals can have varying degrees of privilege based on different factors. It helps to dispel the notion that all members of a privileged group are uniformly better off.
What does the speaker suggest is the root of anger among some poor white men in society?
-The speaker suggests that the root of anger among some poor white men is the disconnect between their perceived position in the hierarchy of privilege and their actual experience of privilege in society.
How can the abstract structures help in understanding the dynamics of privilege in different contexts?
-Abstract structures allow for the recontextualization of privilege, showing that different individuals or groups can be at the top or bottom of the hierarchy depending on the context, and helping to understand the relative nature of privilege.
What is the speaker's personal strategy for empathizing with others' experiences?
-The speaker's personal strategy involves performing 'pivots' in their thinking, recognizing their own relative privilege or lack thereof in different contexts, and using this understanding to empathize with the experiences of others.
What is the speaker's ultimate wish regarding the application of abstract mathematical thinking to social issues?
-The speaker's ultimate wish is for everyone to use abstract mathematical thinking to better understand others, work together, and avoid the competitive and divisive approach of trying to prove others wrong.
Outlines
🧠 Mathematical Thinking in Daily Life
The speaker, a pure mathematician, introduces the concept of using abstract mathematics as a tool to understand and navigate the complexities of human society. They emphasize that while they don't solve equations in daily life, the mathematical way of thinking helps them comprehend arguments and empathize with others. The speaker uses the example of the factors of the number 30, illustrating how they can be visualized in a hierarchical structure, similar to a family tree, to show relationships between numbers. This abstract approach is then generalized to represent various concepts, including types of privilege in society.
🔄 Understanding Privilege Dynamics
The speaker explores the application of the factor hierarchy to understand the dynamics of privilege in society. They replace the numbers with concepts such as 'rich,' 'white,' and 'male' to create a visual representation of privilege interaction. This diagram helps to clarify misconceptions about privilege, such as the idea that all members of a privileged group are uniformly better off. The speaker also discusses the skew in privilege distribution and how it can lead to tension and misunderstanding, particularly focusing on the plight of poor white men who may feel overlooked despite their relative position in the hierarchy. The concept is further expanded to consider different contexts, such as focusing on non-men, and how privilege hierarchies can shift accordingly.
🤝 The Relevance of Abstract Mathematics for Empathy
In the concluding paragraph, the speaker emphasizes the surprising relevance of abstract mathematics to everyday life, particularly in fostering understanding and empathy towards others. They express a desire for everyone to strive for a deeper understanding of others and to collaborate rather than compete or argue. The speaker believes that abstract mathematical thinking can be instrumental in achieving this goal, by providing a structured way to analyze and appreciate different perspectives and experiences.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Divisive arguments
💡Echo chambers
💡Abstract mathematics
💡Factors of numbers
💡Prime numbers
💡Hierarchy
💡Privilege
💡White privilege
💡Cuboid of privilege
💡Empathy
💡Pivots
Highlights
The world is filled with divisive arguments and conflicts, suggesting a need for understanding and empathy.
The speaker introduces abstract mathematics as an unexpected tool for understanding the confusing world.
The concept of pure mathematics is differentiated from applied mathematics, with the former focusing on theoretical aspects.
Mathematical thinking is proposed as a method to understand arguments and empathize with others, beyond solving equations.
The speaker uses the factors of the number 30 to illustrate a concept that can be applied to understanding societal issues.
A visual representation of the factors of 30 is likened to a family tree, showing relationships between numbers.
The hierarchy of factors is explained, with prime numbers at the base and composite numbers above.
Abstraction of the factor diagram is introduced, where numbers are replaced with letters to generalize the concept.
The abstracted diagram is then applied to the concept of privilege, with 'a', 'b', and 'c' representing different types of privilege.
The diagram is used to illustrate the interaction and hierarchy of different types of privilege in society.
Misunderstandings about privilege, such as equating white privilege with wealth, are clarified using the diagram.
The diagram shows that even within groups with similar levels of privilege, there can be significant disparities.
The concept of relative privilege is discussed, explaining why some groups may feel overlooked despite having certain advantages.
The speaker suggests that understanding the root of anger in underprivileged groups can be more productive than reciprocating anger.
The abstract structures are shown to be versatile, applicable to different contexts and social hierarchies.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's own relative privilege and using it to understand others' experiences.
Abstract mathematical thinking is concluded to be highly relevant to daily life and fostering empathy for others.
The speaker expresses a wish for everyone to understand and work with others, using abstract mathematical thinking as a tool for unity.
Transcripts
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