Joaquin O. Carbonara

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Ph.D. from UC San Diego (1992) 
Associate Professor of Mathematics 
Buffalo State College 
(716) 878-6423
Fax (716) 878-6107
carbonjo@buffalostate.edu 

 

General relationship of mathematics to personal goals

Taken from The Goals of the Cambridge Conference on the Correlation of Elementary Science and Mathematics (1969).

Because of the comparative simplicity with which mathematics can go beyond the superficial, it lends itself to the development of attitudes of lifelong and general value. Among these are:

  • A healthy skepticism regarding accepted knowledge and a willingness to abandon ideas which are demonstrably erroneous.
  • The humility inherent in the realization that our understanding can never be complete, coupled with the optimism of conviction that, nevertheless, our understanding can always be increased.
  • The realization that understanding, while indeed a means to power, is a joy and an end in itself.