Welcome to the website of the Mathyrious Podcast!!! This podcast is a pet project of mine to explore what I refer to as the web of pure mathematics for a non-STEM audience (STEM is a commonly used acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). In particular, I hope to reach some of those drawn to the arts and humanities and show them another side of mathematics from the dreary computation they may have experienced in the classroom. In leading up to this plan, I will begin by discussing how historical and philosophical currents shaped mathematics and vice versa. This will lead to a discussion of how we might best understand mathematics at a foundational level.
When finally turning to mathematics proper, I will test my contention that, while much of the detailed work in advanced mathematics can be difficult to understand, the underlying ideas are often deceptively simple. Once I reach this stage, my initial goal is to outline the big picture ideas and gradually work my way to the specific details. If you are interested in understanding the ideas behind the world of pure mathematics, I invite you to join me on this journey. The readers can decide how far into the details they care to go.
I wish to clarify one thing from the start of this project. While I have taken courses in advanced areas of mathematics and studied others independently, I do not claim to be a mathematician. Therefore, when it comes to mathematics proper, I will check established textbooks for my presentations. I hope that from my own struggles learning the material, I might offer insights that a mathematician would overlook as “obvious.”
In addition to presenting my views on matters in the philosophy and foundations of mathematics, I will also present the prominent positions and where I believe they succeed and fail. I aim to offer a framework that makes sense of pure mathematics for both a general and specialist audience from antiquity to the present day. I will leave the decision of whether I have succeeded in this goal to the readers.
I assume some familiarity with the mathematical curricula typically taught in primary and secondary schools. This includes the basics of arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. While I will review this material, a prior familiarity allows me to cite items taught in these basic areas as examples of more abstract concepts. If an example is not clear, you may want to check back when the material is covered in more detail in the context of this project.
Each post will appear in written form here on the Mathyrious Blog and in video form on the Mathyrious YouTube Channel, which will also be mirrored on this website. Eventually, I will offer some notes on specific topics that supply the details not given in the introductory presentations, I will eventually add additional social media sites for announcements and further mirroring some of the material.
Thank you again for visiting Mathyrious. If you are interested in learning about advanced mathematics, check in here and on the YouTube channel regularly once this project begins. This invitation extends to those who may disagree with something I post. I am always open to civil discussion on other viewpoints. You may comment on particular posts on the YouTube video. For more general comments on the project, I will add a comments page here when the project begins. As an amateur who wanders in the deepest ends of the mathematical pool, I appreciate any constructive criticism from mathematicians.
The posts will begin by July 2025.
– Albert Smithereens