Philip J. Davis > Quotes

“According to Donald J. Monk, the mathematical world is populated with 65% Platonists, 30% formalists, and 5% constructivists. Our own impression is that the Cohen-Dieudonne picture is closer to the truth. The typical mathematician is both a Platonist and a formalist-a secret Platonist with a formalist mask that he puts on when the occasion calls for it. Constructivists are a rare breed, whose status in the mathematical world sometimes seems to be that of tolerated heretics surrounded by orthodox members of an established church.”
― Philip J. Davis, The Mathematical Experience: A National Book Award Winner – Exploring Mathematics: History, Philosophy, and Personalities for Lay Readers

“I believe that in my generation, the belief in a platonic mathematics has often been a substitute religion for people who have abandoned or even rejected traditional religions. Where can certainty be found in a chaotic universe that often seems meaningless? Mathematics has often been claimed to be the sole source of absolute certainty.”
― Philip J. Davis