pgrmdave Posted December 14, 2004 Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 Why are some equations deemed beautiful? What is the difference between them and others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tormod Posted December 14, 2004 Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 Good question. I just recommended a book about that in the Christmas book thread. Here is a review of that book:http://physicsweb.org/articles/review/15/3/1 I think the "beuty" is related to "simplicity". It is all about finding the simplest way to explain something, and then wrap it all up in the shortest equation possible. Like E=mc2... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgrmdave Posted December 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 Does it usually work out that the simplest equations are more often right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tormod Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 They would at least have less room for error since there would be fewer variables which could screw up the results. But of course - any equation is based on assumptions that other equations are right. The entire mathematical language we use is based on basic assumptions which might turn out to be wrong...so I think simplicity rules because - that's the way it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgrmdave Posted December 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 But of course - any equation is based on assumptions that other equations are right. The entire mathematical language we use is based on basic assumptions which might turn out to be wrong... What assumptions? Could these assumptions be applied to the thread in Philosophy and Humanities > Philosophy of Science - physics eventually gets down to assumption and acceptance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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