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I've been reading a brief history of mathematics, from the ancient civilisations onwards and found the following striking quotation from Roger Bacon (1214-94):
Mathematics reveals every genuine truth, for it knows every hidden secret and bears the key to every subtlety. Whoever then has the effrontery to study physics while neglecting mathematics should know from the start that he will never make his entry through the portals of wisdom.
I assume that Roger Bacon would not be impressed by the modern trend in popular science of villifying mathematics.
Mathematics reveals every genuine truth, for it knows every hidden secret and bears the key to every subtlety. Whoever then has the effrontery to study physics while neglecting mathematics should know from the start that he will never make his entry through the portals of wisdom.
I assume that Roger Bacon would not be impressed by the modern trend in popular science of villifying mathematics.