"Many mathematicians derive part of their self-esteem by feeling themselves the proud heirs of a long tradition of rational thinking; I am afraid they idealize their cultural ancestors"
- Edsger Dijkstra
About this Quote
This quote by Edsger Dijkstra talks to the pride that many mathematicians take in their work and the tradition of rational thinking that they are a part of. Dijkstra recommends that mathematicians frequently take pride in their work by feeling that they become part of a long tradition of logical thinking. However, he also recommends that this pride may be misplaced, as mathematicians might be idealizing their cultural forefathers. This could be due to the fact that they are unaware of the mistakes and missteps that their predecessors made, or due to the fact that they are focusing on the successes of their predecessors and neglecting the failures. Dijkstra's quote talks to the significance of understanding the history of mathematics and the significance of acknowledging the mistakes of the past in order to move forward.
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