Three links from today form a lovely trilogy.
Thesis:
A very poor one! The New York Times today asks the awesomely bad question: Is Algebra Necessary?
Of course I will not stoop to answer the question.
Rather we might ask why this occurred. Provocative shitstirring to increase profits, following a familiar capitalist ideological pattern? A trial balloon fishing for levels of outrage at implementing current ideological trends? Probably both, but either way not to be taken seriously; although a good smashing of it is always welcome. Which brings us to…
Antithesis:
Not that much is required. Still it is therapeutic. Here is A Modest Proposal.
But the triumph is…
Synthesis:
That is why you need algebra and mathematics, m*****f*****.
A Dialectic of Mathematics in Culture