<p>Just my 2 cents =). I got in btw.</p>
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<li> What work of art, music, science, mathematics or literature has surprised, unsettled or challenged you, and in what way? Please limit your response to half a page, or approximately 250 words. And please use the space bar instead of the tab key to create paragraph indentations.
Post/Edit Response </li>
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<p>When I studied discrete mathematics with my math teacher, I came across this question one day. It states that, in a certain town, there is a male barber who shaves all those men, and only those men, who do not shave themselves. Question: Does the barber shave himself?
Answer: Neither Yes nor no.
The world recognized this puzzle as the Russell’s Paradox, a discovery that suggested that math is sometimes not as crystal-clear and definitive as it seems. In fact, with rigorous mathematical proof, mathematician can prove that math itself is not free of contradictions. This concept really unsettled me and the contemporary mathematicians —it in essence shakes basic foundation of mathematics. If mathematic theories can contradict themselves, then any particular theory, model, and system has a chance to be erroneous, and if this statement is true, then math itself can be flawed and wrong in the roots. I think at this point, the upsetting and ruinous effect generated by this paradox makes sense. Imagine everything you have learned, once you considered absolutely indisputable and logical, may be futile and mistaken. Would you still have the determination to continue your study?
I say yes, so did the mathematicians after a short period of agony. Math is an attempt to explore the ultimate truth of universe that existed since day one. This attempt can be lengthy, can be arduous, and certainly can be wrong; but one should not fail to realize that, after all, every study is an effort to enlighten, to educate, and to gratify the minds with knowledge and values. There is nothing futile about this.</p>