Category Theory: Exploring Mathematics’ Deepest Truths With Eugenia Cheng (#362)

Is math real? How to bake pi? And how much is x+y, really? 

Many people don't like math because they find it too complicated or boring. But math can actually be a lot of fun, and we can find it everywhere in life, even in the most mundane things like baking. And it is through baking that today's guest, Eugenia Cheng, decided to rid the world of math phobia.

Dr. Cheng is a renowned mathematician, educator, author, and concert pianist. She's a scientist in residence at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she teaches mathematics to art students. She is an expert in category theory and has recently published a book, Is Math Real?, which we will discuss in detail today!

Join Eugenia and me as we explore mathematics’ deepest truths.

Key Takeaways: 

Intro (00:00)

Judging a book by its cover: Is Math Real? (01:10)

On the unreasonable power of mathematics in the physical sciences (04:05)

If there were no physical world, would math exist? (08:14)

The number zero (10:30)

Is our brain a massive computer? (17:04)

How to Bake Pi (22:38)

Category theory (27:07)

How to revitalize and modernize education (39:21)

Is math created or discovered? (45:12)

Outro (49:33)

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