Terence Tao: If Math Is More Than Proof, We Must Celebrate the Rest of It
num42 · hn · 2026-09-19
Fields Medalist Terence Tao argues on his blog that mathematics is more than theorem-proving: conjectures, heuristics, exposition, and collaborative culture deserve far more recognition than the community currently gives them. As AI and formal verification tools lower the technical barrier of proof, he suggests the scarce, irreplaceable parts of mathematical work are asking good questions, building frameworks, and choosing directions — and calls for reward systems (prizes, jobs, reputation) to reflect that.
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