Today I was struck by the sudden question of a Math II (Algebra) student--Why do we need to study the properties of every single mathematical concept?. I did not have time to answer the question thoroughly, or as thoroughly as I wanted to. It is a natural question, although it may really shake the ground of any educator. It is one of those questions that truly makes us think about the purpose of our craft. After all, it is one of those questions we expect from students. The answer to it is that properties let us comprehend in a deeper manner any phenomenom or event that happens in nature. It allows us to appreciate its PURPOSE. Features and properties are what attract us about... ANYTHING. Whenever we like a film, or a piece of music, we may understand each one of them better if we dig into the production notes of that particular movie, or the story of the song's composer. Learning about the properties of equalities (in today's topic), broadens our vision about their use and application. It may seem dry and slow and times, and some properties may feel stupid, boring or even pointless. However, it is a Math Educator's responsibility to build upon those concepts to show students how such concepts fit in a wider picture. A piece of advice... try allowing students to formulate by themselves any mathematical property.
Mathematics is a huge Lego wall. It is made upon tiny conceptual blocks that are linked together in order to allow us to... move the world.
Today's Recommended Mathematical Concept: Fractal
Soundtrack
The Verve--Lucky Man
Collective Soul--December
Moby--Bodyrock
Moby--Flower
Pic: http://www.euphoria-magazine.com/images/stories/photography/100-wonderful-fractal-images/fractal-images12.jpg
Jorge, when a "secular" explains this concept, it seems all well and good. When the Church explains this concept, it must be removed from the table even though God may not even come up in the discussion. I was appalled while taking a "certain" class at a "certain" university in "another" country in a "separate" universe one day when the concept of "Natural Law," which you have just explained precisely, was somehow discounted simply because the Church figured it out.
ResponderEliminarThe Natural Law goes like this. Every thing has a "nature" or in your words "purpose." When this things is removed from it nature or purpose it either dies (if it's living) or loses its meaning (when it's inanimate).
For example, I'll bet many have tried to use a knife, either out of sloth or need, to tighten a screw. The nature of a knife is to cut, not tighten screws. What happens is either the knife loses its point (nearly always), the head of the screw becomes buggered (nearly always), or the knife changes direction as it slips sometimes inflicting terrible pains and wounds against the user who has nothing else to blame but his perfidy.
So, I just wanted to comment that you are correct by positing that everything has a purpose, and that an existing parallel reality exists in other "-ologies" that tend to describe these similarities in life. I think another lesson we might try to get our feeble minds around might be that information, regardless of its source, is always good when correct applications of this knowledge can benefit humanity and creation. What do you think?