1204.5143 (Bernhelm Booss-Bavnbek et al.)

Unity in Major Themes - Convergence vs. Arbitrariness in the Development
of Mathematics    [PDF]

Bernhelm Booss-Bavnbek, Philip J. Davis

We describe and explain the desire, common among mathematicians, both for unity and independence in its major themes. In the dialogue that follows, we express our spontaneous and considered judgment and reservations by contrasting the development of mathematics as a goal-driven process as opposed to one that often seems to possess considerable arbitrariness.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1204.5143