Simplicity of Mathematics and Difficulty of Politics (by E. Sabato)

The Encyclopedia Britannica describes Ernesto Sabato (1911-2011) as a novelist, journalist and essayist; he was also a mathematical physicist, trained at the University of La Plata, and also at the Institut Curie in Paris and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This scientific vein can be perceived in many of his writings and is very clear in his first book, Uno y el universo (One and the Universe). In it, Sabato dedicates an aphorism to the simplicity of mathematics as opposed to the difficulties of politics (or art), which comes in handy as a digestif for last Sunday’s general elections (or an appetizer for the local, regional and European elections at the end of May):

SIMPLICITY OF MATHEMATICS

There is a widespread opinion that mathematics is the most difficult science when in fact it is the simplest of all. The cause of this paradox lies in the fact that, precisely because of its simplicity, wrong mathematical arguments become evident. In a complex matter of politics or art, there are so many factors at play, and so many unknown or inapparent ones, that it is very difficult to distinguish the true from the false. The result is that any fool thinks he is in a position to discuss politics and art – and indeed he does – while looking at mathematics from a respectful distance.

Featured image: Caricature of Sabato by Fernando Vicente.