Shows
MCMP – Philosophy of MathematicsSymmetry and Mathematicians' Aesthetic Preferences: a Case StudyIrina Starikova (Sao Paulo) gives a talk at the MCMP Colloquium (8 January, 2015) titled "Symmetry and Mathematicians' Aesthetic Preferences: a Case Study". Abstract: Symmetry plays an important role in some areas of mathematics and has traditionally been regarded as a factor of visual beauty. In this talk I explore the ways that symmetry contribute to mathematicians’ aesthetics judgments about mathematical entities and representations. I discuss an example from algebraic graph theory. Comparing two isomorphic drawings of the Petersen graph, I argue that we need to refine the question by distinguishing between perceptual and intellectual beauty and by noting that some mathematical sy...2015-01-1600 min