The Aesthetics of Mathematical Proofs

• Author / Creator

  Paterson, Grace D

• Mathematical theories and entities may be praised for many reasons: for their truth, certainty, depth, applicability, fruitfulness, and beauty. Of these virtues, some (truth, certainty, and to a lesser degree applicability) have received a great deal of philosophical scrutiny and analysis while the others have remained vague and mysterious. This thesis attempts to dispel some of the fog around one member of the latter category, namely beauty. While many objects of mathematics are of aesthetic interest, this thesis focuses specifically on the aesthetics of proofs because of their central position in mathematical practice. It is argued that proofs are conceptual artefacts, and that our perception of them is framed by how we use them. Contemporary theories of functional beauty are then adapted in order to understand and analyse aesthetic claims made about proofs.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Philosophy of mathematics
  • Aesthetics

• Graduation date

  Fall 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Arts

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3JS9HG90

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.