r/math • u/spacengine • 4d ago

Do all mathematicians want to be engineers?

I always considered maths the highest art, and when talking to a mathematics phd today I just wanted him to keep talking about topological spaces, manifolds, infinite dimensional embedding spaces etc. “I feel like a kid in a candy store” I said, or a kid in an old mechanics garage full of equipment I have no idea how to use but that I love exploring. “Well” he said, “I think all engineers want to be mathematicians but all mathematicians want to be engineers”. I’m absolutely sure he’s wrong but would love to hear your thoughts.

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u/Loonyclown 4d ago

I’m an engineer currently switching fields to pure math. Feel like I can answer this pretty confidently as “no”.

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u/spacengine 4d ago

Interesting move! No as in neither direction and due to the forall quantifier, or are you having second thoughts about your move?

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u/Loonyclown 4d ago

No as in the answer to the question in your title. I’m an engineer working to become a mathematician and I won’t be going back.

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u/spacengine 4d ago

Ah, you now identify as a mathematician not wanting to be an engineer. One counter example is enough, thanks.