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Can we call Mathematics a kind of Art?

English Language Learners Asked on December 24, 2021

The dictionary says Art can refer to ‘skill in conducting any human activity’, and it also has an archaic usage ‘science, learning, or scholarship’. So can we call Mathematics a kind of art or is it appropriate to call it a kind of art nowadays?

3 Answers

In one sense, anything humans do skillfully is art (or artful).

However, art (or “the arts”) is often contrasted with science, with the general division based on whether correctness is subjective or objective. In this sense, math is definitely not an art (or artistic).

Answered by StephenS on December 24, 2021

A search for "mathematics art or science" finds this interesting article:

The intrepid mathematician

My view is that mathematics is neither an art nor a science. A third path exists, nestled between the two, and intertwined with both. Mathematics is inherently different from other disciplines. While it is wildly creative, it is not art. While it can be used to model natural phenomena, it is not science. There are elements of both art and science in the field, but it isn’t a subset of either.

On the other hand, a search for "the art of mathematics" finds many books, so the question "Can we call mathematics a kind of art" must be answered yes, because many do call it that. It just isn't merely that. A painter can create any kind of imaginary world they want; a mathematician must create proofs that others have to agree with.

Answered by Jack O'Flaherty on December 24, 2021

Mathematicians may wish to think of themselves as artists, bit in general we do not refer to it as an “art”. Math has proofs, eventually math can be proven to be correct or incorrect. As much as I think modern art is incorrect, and the Dutch Masters were correct, that is a matter of taste.

Answered by Patrick on December 24, 2021

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