Help understanding a sentence from “An Introduction to Mathematics”, but it's about Shakespeare!
I'm reading Alfred North Whitehead's "An Introduction to Mathematics". I need help understanding a sentence at the beginning of the book:
The study of mathematics is apt to commence in disappointment. The important applications of the science, the theoretical interest of its ideas, and the logical rigour of its methods, all generate the expectation of a speedy introduction to processes of interest. We are told that by its aid the stars are weighed and the billions of molecules in a drop of water are counted.
Yet, like the ghost of Hamlet's father, this great science eludes the efforts of our mental weapons to grasp it –“ 'Tis here, 'tis there, 'tis gone" – and what we do see does not suggest the same excuse for illusiveness as sufficed for the ghost, that it is too noble for our gross methods.
I understand the Shakespearean reference, but I'm having trouble understanding the last phrase.
I believe the author is saying something like this: stuff we see in mathematics (that we lack understanding) cannot be blamed illusive (the ghost can, but not math) and in the end, math is too noble for our gross methods (and that's why we can't understand it).
This sentence looks weird to me. I'd love to hear what other people think about it.
meaning phrases shakespeare
asked 6 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
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I'm reading Alfred North Whitehead's "An Introduction to Mathematics". I need help understanding a sentence at the beginning of the book:
The study of mathematics is apt to commence in disappointment. The important applications of the science, the theoretical interest of its ideas, and the logical rigour of its methods, all generate the expectation of a speedy introduction to processes of interest. We are told that by its aid the stars are weighed and the billions of molecules in a drop of water are counted.
Yet, like the ghost of Hamlet's father, this great science eludes the efforts of our mental weapons to grasp it –“ 'Tis here, 'tis there, 'tis gone" – and what we do see does not suggest the same excuse for illusiveness as sufficed for the ghost, that it is too noble for our gross methods.
I understand the Shakespearean reference, but I'm having trouble understanding the last phrase.
I believe the author is saying something like this: stuff we see in mathematics (that we lack understanding) cannot be blamed illusive (the ghost can, but not math) and in the end, math is too noble for our gross methods (and that's why we can't understand it).
This sentence looks weird to me. I'd love to hear what other people think about it.
meaning phrases shakespeare
asked 6 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I'm reading Alfred North Whitehead's "An Introduction to Mathematics". I need help understanding a sentence at the beginning of the book:
The study of mathematics is apt to commence in disappointment. The important applications of the science, the theoretical interest of its ideas, and the logical rigour of its methods, all generate the expectation of a speedy introduction to processes of interest. We are told that by its aid the stars are weighed and the billions of molecules in a drop of water are counted.
Yet, like the ghost of Hamlet's father, this great science eludes the efforts of our mental weapons to grasp it –“ 'Tis here, 'tis there, 'tis gone" – and what we do see does not suggest the same excuse for illusiveness as sufficed for the ghost, that it is too noble for our gross methods.
I understand the Shakespearean reference, but I'm having trouble understanding the last phrase.
I believe the author is saying something like this: stuff we see in mathematics (that we lack understanding) cannot be blamed illusive (the ghost can, but not math) and in the end, math is too noble for our gross methods (and that's why we can't understand it).
This sentence looks weird to me. I'd love to hear what other people think about it.
meaning phrases shakespeare
asked 6 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I'm reading Alfred North Whitehead's "An Introduction to Mathematics". I need help understanding a sentence at the beginning of the book:
The study of mathematics is apt to commence in disappointment. The important applications of the science, the theoretical interest of its ideas, and the logical rigour of its methods, all generate the expectation of a speedy introduction to processes of interest. We are told that by its aid the stars are weighed and the billions of molecules in a drop of water are counted.
Yet, like the ghost of Hamlet's father, this great science eludes the efforts of our mental weapons to grasp it –“ 'Tis here, 'tis there, 'tis gone" – and what we do see does not suggest the same excuse for illusiveness as sufficed for the ghost, that it is too noble for our gross methods.
I understand the Shakespearean reference, but I'm having trouble understanding the last phrase.
I believe the author is saying something like this: stuff we see in mathematics (that we lack understanding) cannot be blamed illusive (the ghost can, but not math) and in the end, math is too noble for our gross methods (and that's why we can't understand it).
This sentence looks weird to me. I'd love to hear what other people think about it.
meaning phrases shakespeare
meaning phrases shakespeare
asked 6 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 6 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 6 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 6 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
asked 6 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
11
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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