Mathematics is the art of giving the same name to different things

[studiot]

This thread is to open a discussion about this quote, its meaning and implications.

Quote

Henri Poincare  1908

Mathematics is the art of giving the same name to different things

 

[Genady]

Does it mean abstraction?

For the context, nawinterviewP.pdf (uu.nl):

Quote

Elegance may result from the feeling of surprise caused by the unlooked-for occurrence of objects not habitually associated. In this, again, it is fruitful, since it discloses thus relations that were until then unrecognized. Mathematics is the art of giving the same names to different things.

 

[studiot]

1 hour ago, Genady said:

Does it mean abstraction?

For the context, nawinterviewP.pdf (uu.nl):

 

what an excellent reference. Also useful on the existence thread and good to quote to others about scientific method. +1

One thing I couldn't find in it was the companion, balancing quote

Quote

and poetry is the art of giving many names to one thing

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by studiot

[Genady]

15 minutes ago, studiot said:

One thing I couldn't find in it was the companion, balancing quote

I've found some information on it here: quote source - Who said "Poetry is the art of giving different names to the same thing"? - Literature Stack Exchange