Help understanding a sentence from “An Introduction to Mathematics”, but it's about Shakespeare!
I'm reading Alfred North Whitehead's "An Introduction to Mathematics". I need help understanding a sentence at the beginning of the book:
The study of mathematics is apt to commence in disappointment. The important applications of the science, the theoretical interest of its ideas, and the logical rigour of its methods, all generate the expectation of a speedy introduction to processes of interest. We are told that by its aid the stars are weighed and the billions of molecules in a drop of water are counted.
Yet, like the ghost of Hamlet's father, this great science eludes the efforts of our mental weapons to grasp it –“ 'Tis here, 'tis there, 'tis gone" – and what we do see does not suggest the same excuse for illusiveness as sufficed for the ghost, that it is too noble for our gross methods.
I understand the Shakespearean reference, but I'm having trouble understanding the last phrase.
I believe the author is saying something like this: stuff we see in mathematics (that we lack understanding) cannot be blamed illusive (the ghost can, but not math) and in the end, math is too noble for our gross methods (and that's why we can't understand it).
This sentence looks weird to me. I'd love to hear what other people think about it.
meaning phrases shakespeare
asked 8 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I'm reading Alfred North Whitehead's "An Introduction to Mathematics". I need help understanding a sentence at the beginning of the book:
The study of mathematics is apt to commence in disappointment. The important applications of the science, the theoretical interest of its ideas, and the logical rigour of its methods, all generate the expectation of a speedy introduction to processes of interest. We are told that by its aid the stars are weighed and the billions of molecules in a drop of water are counted.
Yet, like the ghost of Hamlet's father, this great science eludes the efforts of our mental weapons to grasp it –“ 'Tis here, 'tis there, 'tis gone" – and what we do see does not suggest the same excuse for illusiveness as sufficed for the ghost, that it is too noble for our gross methods.
I understand the Shakespearean reference, but I'm having trouble understanding the last phrase.
I believe the author is saying something like this: stuff we see in mathematics (that we lack understanding) cannot be blamed illusive (the ghost can, but not math) and in the end, math is too noble for our gross methods (and that's why we can't understand it).
This sentence looks weird to me. I'd love to hear what other people think about it.
meaning phrases shakespeare
asked 8 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I'm reading Alfred North Whitehead's "An Introduction to Mathematics". I need help understanding a sentence at the beginning of the book:
The study of mathematics is apt to commence in disappointment. The important applications of the science, the theoretical interest of its ideas, and the logical rigour of its methods, all generate the expectation of a speedy introduction to processes of interest. We are told that by its aid the stars are weighed and the billions of molecules in a drop of water are counted.
Yet, like the ghost of Hamlet's father, this great science eludes the efforts of our mental weapons to grasp it –“ 'Tis here, 'tis there, 'tis gone" – and what we do see does not suggest the same excuse for illusiveness as sufficed for the ghost, that it is too noble for our gross methods.
I understand the Shakespearean reference, but I'm having trouble understanding the last phrase.
I believe the author is saying something like this: stuff we see in mathematics (that we lack understanding) cannot be blamed illusive (the ghost can, but not math) and in the end, math is too noble for our gross methods (and that's why we can't understand it).
This sentence looks weird to me. I'd love to hear what other people think about it.
meaning phrases shakespeare
asked 8 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I'm reading Alfred North Whitehead's "An Introduction to Mathematics". I need help understanding a sentence at the beginning of the book:
The study of mathematics is apt to commence in disappointment. The important applications of the science, the theoretical interest of its ideas, and the logical rigour of its methods, all generate the expectation of a speedy introduction to processes of interest. We are told that by its aid the stars are weighed and the billions of molecules in a drop of water are counted.
Yet, like the ghost of Hamlet's father, this great science eludes the efforts of our mental weapons to grasp it –“ 'Tis here, 'tis there, 'tis gone" – and what we do see does not suggest the same excuse for illusiveness as sufficed for the ghost, that it is too noble for our gross methods.
I understand the Shakespearean reference, but I'm having trouble understanding the last phrase.
I believe the author is saying something like this: stuff we see in mathematics (that we lack understanding) cannot be blamed illusive (the ghost can, but not math) and in the end, math is too noble for our gross methods (and that's why we can't understand it).
This sentence looks weird to me. I'd love to hear what other people think about it.
meaning phrases shakespeare
meaning phrases shakespeare
asked 8 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
asked 8 mins ago
Daniel B.Daniel B.
11
11
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Daniel B. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
0
active
oldest
votes
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Daniel B. is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f484062%2fhelp-understanding-a-sentence-from-an-introduction-to-mathematics-but-its-ab%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
0
active
oldest
votes
0
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Daniel B. is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Daniel B. is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Daniel B. is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Daniel B. is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f484062%2fhelp-understanding-a-sentence-from-an-introduction-to-mathematics-but-its-ab%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
