Lex Fridman on math and science in the Soviet Union

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Jordan Ellenberg is a mathematician and author of Shape and How Not to Be Wrong.

PODCAST INFO:

SOCIAL:

[marc]

I’m in a advanced math program for high school students, the program and the whole institute are run and taught by this Russian mathematician and his wife (both math PhD’s) in their living room.

The Man is tough and really strict, if you get stuck he likes to let you know that what you consider to be “advanced mathematics” is actually 6th grade math how it was taught in the Soviet Union 😂😭

[jones]

Back in the stone age (the early '90's) I took some computer science classes. I remember, whenever we struggled with the course work, the go to folks for help mostly came from the former Soviet Block countries.

[pragueexpat]

I'm from a former satellite state of the USSR which basically copied their education system, and I remember how we were taught math, we focused on actually understanding the formulas and theorems, often proved the formulas as an exercise and it wasn't about just plugging numbers in the formulas to spit out some number.

[Mandark]

Although i dislike very strongly both the former Soviet Union and the ideology on which it was founded, they definitely had a few good things going for them.
The emphasis on scientific education by the state and the way that was viewed by the wider society is absolutely one of them and the world would be a better place if that was the case everywhere.

[adamtaylor]

I love Dual at Dawn and all of Amir Alexander's work. Read it!

[andreasmoller]

If designed correctly, public schools will keep most students far away from higher forms of education.

[jakubberan]

good book touching on this is Red Plenty

[intrametaarchi]

yep, yet he doesn't count in how many sacrifices does it cost. A LOT.

[swedishpsychopath]

LOL: Lex: "americans idolize persons that are able to throw a ball into a basket" ...

[cubangore]

Lex can you interview Bob Lazar please

[OrochiShaka]

I feel like soviets just wanted people good at math so they can make better weapons not because of the idealistic view Lex has, hehe.

[giovannihernandez]

They produce high leve scientist and engineers but forgot ideology and BS economics while americana built a so much better ecosystem yo flourish. That's way although the Gap was huge America won.

[TyyylerDurden]

Mathematics is just a tool, not the main purpose of life. It is a tool for exploring the world, for being able to expand our basic perception abilities. If mathematics is used for making the World a better place - it is moral. If it is used for marxist purposes - they'd better not use it at all.

[TheBigBawsss]

High level science and math under communism is like having a high level engine with a shitty drivetrain… the system will eventually breakdown. Science and math needs the creative freedom that comes with economic freedom like in capitalist society. Forming a reenforcing feedback loop with each other