maths education

Hi everyone, I've just finished my philosophy degree and become interested in basic logic and philosophy of maths, as well as the usual questions about the nature of reality. However, I gather that to truly understand these things, one basically needs a phD in maths/physics. Though not a genius I was quite naturally good at maths getting an A* GCSE back in the day. I was wondering whether anyone thinks it is worth taking an A-level with a view to getting a more comprehensive understanding of some of these issues.
I've seen the stuff covered on maths/physics degrees and it's mighty impressive, certainly beyond me but I think I'd enjoy and benefit from making some vague moves towards this understanding.

It is always worth studying more maths. If you are studying for interest take A llevel maths and further maths. Further maths has the more interesting stuff but you need to do single maths first to understand a lot (not all) of it. Plus as a qualification you can't take further maths alone.

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Originally Posted by jaminb

Hi everyone, I've just finished my philosophy degree and become interested in basic logic and philosophy of maths, as well as the usual questions about the nature of reality. However, I gather that to truly understand these things, one basically needs a phD in maths/physics. Though not a genius I was quite naturally good at maths getting an A* GCSE back in the day. I was wondering whether anyone thinks it is worth taking an A-level with a view to getting a more comprehensive understanding of some of these issues.
I've seen the stuff covered on maths/physics degrees and it's mighty impressive, certainly beyond me but I think I'd enjoy and benefit from making some vague moves towards this understanding.

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First of all welcome to the forum, and also best wishes for your degree.

Actually jaminb no one in the world genius in their born. Start from the simple things and going deep and deep. In me believe that's the way to be genius.

By the way I don't think that getting A-level could cause many difficulties to you. But the fine way is start on single maths(that is basis on pure mathematics).

Then move to deep. Don't think that maths/physics stuff is mighty. If you get the fundamentals properly everything is simple.

Every time friends on this forum ready to help you. So start to work right now.
Do much as possible you self.

Good luck,

There was an article in Scientific American about a month ago called "The Expert Mind." It is worth looking at for someone in your situation. Basically, it says that anyone can become an expert in anything with enough "effortful" work (the article gives a detailed explanation of effortful).

I also took a degree in Philosophy. I always hated math and was afraid of it. Later on, though my interest in math/physics overwhelmed my fear and now I am working on a Master's in astrophysics. It took a lot of hard work to get to this point but I found if you have enough interest and are willing to work hard enough you can do it.

-Eric

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Originally Posted by oswaler

There was an article in Scientific American about a month ago called "The Expert Mind." It is worth looking at for someone in your situation. Basically, it says that anyone can become an expert in anything with enough "effortful" work (the article gives a detailed explanation of effortful).

I also took a degree in Philosophy. I always hated math and was afraid of it. Later on, though my interest in math/physics overwhelmed my fear and now I am working on a Master's in astrophysics. It took a lot of hard work to get to this point but I found if you have enough interest and are willing to work hard enough you can do it.

-Eric

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I agreed 100% with your artical. Anyone can be an expert on anything with full effort.

As you said maths can be awful to you ecause you followed completly diferent way freom math. That is philosophy. I haven't much idea about philosophy. If you want to learn maths do hard work. Manage your time. You can win.

Is that philosophy teach you about how to think/solve a specifc problem? If so maths can't be dificult to you. Try it.

Actually, philosophy was somewhat helpful when it comes to math. It was much more helpful in understanding how to think through physics on a macro level. What made a HUGE difference in my understanding of math is computer programming. After doing programming for work for a few years, I got a good understanding of dealing with symbolic logic. Also, as in programming, I understood that math problems are not 1 big hard problem, but each is made up of a lot of little problems.

-Eric

Ya, thats true. When i'm satrting study about programming it should be so boring if i don't know at least basic maths. Fortunatly in my school for higher studies i followed maths. So that in university it is so help-full to me. Now thats fine.