Music, Mathematics and I

There is a reason for choosing the three terms in the title of this essay. I is undoubtedly the most celebrated word of all times. Nothing exists without 'I'. Music and and Mathematics are what 'I' does or enjoys. Here the term I is used not as the first person singular. It is used to refer all 'I's in the world who has the ability to think and feel the meaning of the word 'I'.

Music is considered as an art form while Mathematics is a rational science even though both are considered as entities which include certain amount of creativity.

Long ago, people used to think that emotions come from heart and thoughts from head. Now, we know both emotions and thoughts are handled by the brain itself. Why do we think? Why do we have soft feelings? Are they both necessary for the survival of our species? Those who watched the movie ' A beautiful mind' may have noticed one quote by the character played by Russell Crowe (John Nash) "Adam smith said, the best result comes when everyone in the group does what's best for himself. Incomplete,because, the best result comes when everyone in the group does what's best for himself and the group." This quote had significant importance in the movie which was based on the biography of Prof. John Nash, a Nobel laureate. The point is, while we think for ourselves, we feel for our group.

"Human being is a Social animal" You must be sick of hearing this sentence for ages, but we are. We are bound by number of communities everyday. Family, friends, school, church, cricket team, fan club, social networking sites, work mates, the list doesn't end. We create a circle around us and those who comes inside that circle are considered to be close to us. And we consider ourselves to be part of that community. In every community, members create certain kind of relation between them according to the nature of the community.

Why do people do crime? why do we work hard? Why do we do things? And who makes more out of life? In my opinion, those who think more effectively makes more out of everyday life. According to Darwinian evolution the fittest survives. So, the more effectively we can think, the more solutions for everyday problems can also be found. Buddhist philosophy says all troubles come from desire. But, as we know, everything good also come from desire. When we have desire, we use our intelligence accordingly to attain what we desired.

Then, why do we need emotional feelings? Aren't they pulling our thoughts back? Here is the significance of that Russell Crowe quotation. If the best result was produced when the best individuals alone survive, human emotions would have had no significance in our lives. But, we need to do what's best for the group as well. That is, neither 100% capitalism nor 100% socialism. Emotions create this bond between individuals to create the sense of community. Thus, the best result is obtained while we use our thoughts and emotions equally balanced. Arts and science, yin and yang, only a harmony can bring the best so there is no point in criticizing one another because of the path chosen.