Beauty Is Suffering [Part 1 - The Mathematician]

Beauty Is Suffering [Part 1 - The Mathematician]

It is not his specific journey which is crucial, it is what his journey represents. Whether we are listening to a piece of music, using a piece of technology, or gazing into a painting, we are, in those very moments, connecting with some sort of human experience other than our own.

In many cultures around the world, there is a tendency to idolise great achievement without taking heed of the very real human struggle which takes place in order for our own senses to receive new wisdom. True culminations of these types of enjoyment, reveal themselves in what can best be described as transcendent awe.

Whilst many outpourings of the human soul don't stem from suffering and sacrifice, the majority of them do, no matter how subtle they seem. Many of our greatest artistic, social, and scientific insights came about because one or more human beings paid for them in one currency or another.

The paradox is; if a large portion of your culture of which you enjoy is connected to suffering and you had the power to remove suffering from human history, would you?

This series is dedicated to the living and dead, sung and unsung heroes, who continue to struggle or struggled in any way in order for me, to every now and then, experience that transcendent moment of true connectedness to my humanity and my existence.

It is for these moments that I live for.

Video: BBC Horizon - Fermat's Last Theorem.
Music: James Horner - Of one heart, of one mind.

[edpp]

'the race is long and in the end it's only with yourself'. Here is a man who understands that fully

[JacobMartin-lf]

Nobody can imagine the kind of adrenaline rush this guy had after having gone through 7 years of suffering, never knowing whether he would ever achieve his goal, and then suddenly coming to a solution. It must be an instant high better than any crack pipe.

[AndreasKaesler]

I don't understand a single line of his proof, but at least my desk looks like his.

[Coderapture-hl]

This man not only inspired me but unlocked something which has been laying dormant within me I was lucky to find this video.

[manapaws]

Yes, so much suffering choosing the lonely way of life, always looking for a higher truth as others are content with deception and lowly thoughts. You want friends who you can talk to and yet no one has the ability to connect with emotionally or intellectually. Everyone hates you because of your gifts, and yet they are unaware of the sacrifices, of the constant battle one has to make internally to combat the demons who constantly tell you to give up and that you are deceived through some idea of grandiosity and under the spell of delusion. It seems we are on a boat and there is a beautiful island in sight, where solitude and eternal nourishment reigns, and yet to arrive on the coast one has to evade serpents and lakes of boiling pitch. Stay strong, brothers, I hope you find your castle and your word is spread through the generations.

[starwarsfamilyguy]

Suffering becomes beautiful when anyone bears great calamities with cheerfulness,
not through insensibility but with greatness in mind.
~ Aristotle ~

[aryehfinklestein]

At 2:40-58 what a wonderfully moving and humbling moment. It's a privilege to watch a great genius contemplate his own achievement in this profoundly emotional way.

[Agent]

I hope we can be like him, pursuing his childhood dream with a burning passion, and succeeding.

[anuragsingh]

Mighty is the mathematical theorem but mightier is the mind who dedicates itself to formulate and prove these theorems, a huge respect to all mathematicians out there who suffer for improvement of knowledge in mathematics for the sake of humanity.

[vishalchikkerur]

Just a quick note. The problem statement at 0:45 is stated incorrectly. The actual statement is a^N + b^N = c^N does not have any positive integer solutions in (a, b, c) for N>2.

[volgg]

The passion you feel from his words, just amazing

[Tager]

this man is the only reason i wanted to pursue math

[rogermouton]

What a mind; I have such admiration for this man

[BigWickEnergy_]

This video moved me to tears.. as it immediately took me back to the years struggling towards my vision.

What a powerful dose of authenticity, for those who can relate.

[callumfrench]

For any Citizens of England, would you agree his determination is a good way of symbolising a characteristic of “Englishness”. Not to say other peoples don’t have determination, but this man’s determination I reckon comes out in a uniquely English way.
To a degree an Anglicans feeling of conviction. That’s what I feel when I listen to him, but that might be a very Anglo-australian feeling/thought to feel.

[night]

Speechless, so much feeling accomplishment this is perfect hardworking suffering passion

[mathematics]

I remember this documentary in 1995 I think or 1996. It was very good. It was before the internet existed. Those were the days!

[tariqal-tb]

It is so powerful and motivating to pursuit your dreams. I can feel his passion even after 40 years since he solved the problem.

[EdwinMcCravy]

There is a typo early in the video (about 0:43) that says FLT says that what is true isn't true. "For any three positive integers; a, b, c; a^N+b^N=c^N for N>2, but the "=" should be "≠".

[greg]

I can't believe the video can't even get the statement of the problem down correctly.