Why?
Reasoning by analogy can be treacherous. And the specific analogy is
dubious (unless there is specific evidence to back up the claim).
For example, trainers typically insist how important it is to warm up,
even perhaps stretch, before exercise. But lately quite a few doubts
have been raised about that by medical and exercise scientists.
Sometimes common sense and the self-evident is correct; often they are not.
On 5/18/2010 5:49 PM, Martin C. Tangora wrote:
> (1) I think that the burden of proof
> that learning mathematics *does not* train the mind
> belongs with those who make that (negative) claim.
> Similarly the claim that learning Latin grammar
> *does not* make one a better speaker and writer of English
> is so dubious that it hardly deserves our attention.
>
> Nobody in the athletics department questions
> the value of football players high-stepping through
> automobile tires. It is self-evident that this exercise
> improves strength and coordination. The fact that
> the tires are removed from the field of play
> before the opening kickoff does not detract from
> the value of the exercise.
--
Murray Eisenberg [log in to unmask]
Mathematics & Statistics Dept.
Lederle Graduate Research Tower phone 413 549-1020 (H)
University of Massachusetts 413 545-2859 (W)
710 North Pleasant Street fax 413 545-1801
Amherst, MA 01003-9305
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