Mathematics describes the nature of numbers and their operations, along with the processes of concluding that an assumption has or does not have truth. There exists a necessity to infer the nature of objects in order to infer the nature of a proof that explains why those objects exist. Survival and order in a society relies on the ability of humans to use the proof processes central to mathematical study. In mathematics, the correct completion and interpretation of a proof begins with making the right assumption via known circumstances. The process which human beings go through to make rational decisions is reflected throughout the human experience in connection with historical events. There exists the presence of a need to use the logical processes central to mathematical proof in order to answer a question, but the lack of an assumption or the right assumption can lead to serious consequences. The methods created and executed by humans, some methods leading to drastic changes in laws and social norms, reflects on what a wrong assumption can lead to. A lack of the essential thought processes can derail a solution from being helpful or a mission from being accomplished. Those thought processes require humans to discipline their natural selfishness for the sake of cooperation with others. The interpretation of the phrase e pluribus Unum yields to the human experience, which involves coming together to solve the problems of the world. E pluribus Unum represents a symbol of unity that humans must attain to achieve true success.

         

          Algorithms will fail if they are not started correctly, hence why mathematicians rely on detail and accuracy. One wrong number or one wrong operation, no matter the location in the problem, will ruin the problem immediately. If the first step does not lead in the right direction, then inadequacy will quickly arise, and the algorithm will invalidate itself. Charles Dickens portrays Thomas Gradgrind in his fictional novel Hard Times as a man with a strict algorithm for success. Gradgrind believes that his algorithm will lead to a perfect society based on facts, a system to keep citizens in line with the capitalist economic system centralized around industrial production. Gradgrind himself fails to account for other circumstances that would certainly change the algorithm of ‘success’. While the society of Coketown came together via Gradgrind’s algorithm, the industrial system, along with the ignorance of human emotion, represents the lack of a correct algorithm that does not account for all the humanitarian conditions, including emotion and curiosity. Susan A. Bandes at the DePaul University College of Law argues that “the guiding principle of the field of Law and Emotion is that the law should not rely on untested or inaccurate assumptions about how emotions work, but should make choices, and design institutions, in light of the best available knowledge” Gradgrind fails to properly assess the basic human nature among the Coketown citizens, thus he makes decisions outside the interests of his constituents.

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          A lack of logic when working through a proof ruins the proof from the beginning. Mathematical reasoning takes much critical thinking. Without a proper thought process on how to solve a problem not just correctly, but thoroughly, a solution cannot exist. Not only must logic be used to solve a proof, but the correct logic must be used. A proof without the right logic may appear correct, but, the whole body remains invalid. In addition to the correct logic being used, the algorithm must be completed in an efficient matter, that is, redundancy and useless steps make a proof difficult to observe by someone with less knowledge of the subject. The idea of not just using logic, but the proper logic, reflects Gradgrind’s system of education. The transformation of children from young observers to workers in the industrial business requires a firm educational system, but one that acknowledges the fact that children remain emotionally fragile, along with being curious about other walks of life. Gradgrind believed he helped society by teaching children order solely via fact, rather he took away young minds’ creativity, interests, and curiosity. By viewing humans as numbers, the Gradgrind system produced industrial workers, but not in the humane way. The system based itself on knowledge from the brain rather than interest from the heart. Dickens explains how a central part of the Gradgrind philosophy included not having to pay for resources. Rather than working to earn wages and financial success, the Coketown Hands, as Dickens referred to the workers as, became ignorant to the appreciation and the self-worth that comes with wealth. “Gratitude was to be abolished, and the virtues springing from it were not to be. Every inch of the existence of mankind, from birth to death, was to be a bargain across a counter. And if we didn’t get to Heaven that way, it was not a politico-economical place, and we had no business there”. The craving for money overpowers the concentration on how humans feel, how humans collaborate, and what thoughts others have. The overthrow of human emotion for financial gain represents the collapse of Gradgrind’s logical process, and ultimately the full potential of his system.

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          E pluribus Unum represents the need for humans to come together to solve the world’s problems. Individuals throughout time have their own interpretation of the phrase, but a universal meaning holds true: humans comes together to form a perfect world that all can share. Together, humans rely on their fellow beings to survive, govern, and complete tasks. The way to govern, survive, and complete tasks requires logic and careful steps. The steps must be right and must fully be followed. In the article “Out of Many, One—Or Chaos”, Joseph Baldacchino cites Irving Babbitt and his description of the human experience. Babbitt describes how without the permanence and unity, “human life would be meaningless and human society impossible.” The presence of war between human beings of competitive qualities of will exemplifies the unity present in the structure of the human experience. Selfishness will ruin a man’s ability to use his skills to better himself and the group he partakes in. Thus, according to Babbitt, man must learn to discipline his ‘impulsive self’ and his ‘ruling passion’ to not only better his personality and achieve eternal happiness, but ‘move toward a common center with others who have been carrying through a similar task of self-conquest’ Babbitt’s argument on one end contradicts Gradgrind’s method of educating children and the social structure in Coketown. Simultaneously, Babbitt provides an alternative to an elite system by transforming said system into more of a pluralist, people-based system, where the masses come together to participate in decision-making, using the correct logical thought processes.

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          Mathematics scares people. The concepts and the reasoning seem time-consuming and not worth the average person’s study time. But mathematics has power. Not only does mathematics provide an individual with methods to solving complex equations, it opens one’s eyes to the real world. Some do not realize the significance of the subject. Learning a process takes time and lots of knowledge of oblivious details that suddenly become relevant. All processes and algorithms have a starting point. In mathematics, all proofs start with an assumption. A false assumption causes proofs to immediately crumble. Some believe they make the right assumptions and go on anyway, only to fail later because of a bad start. Thomas Gradgrind assumed that society could thrive exclusively on order, however humanity became the biggest concern. There will never be one algorithm that provides a path to a society rich with both equality and equity. Humans must learn from each other, not just from themselves, as self-interest creates divides in society. While biased, individual self-interest can cause disorder, a combination of interests from across the spectrum of virtue may lead to a balanced society. Humans never fully understand the concept of e pluribus Unum; thus, individuals have flaws in their thought processes. The lack of a complete thought process can possibly explain why some of the biggest questions in the universe remain unanswered, and they may never have an answer. Despite one’s efforts to collaborate with others intellectually identical to themselves, questions concerning mathematical and scientific phenomena still exist. Many algorithms and theories have been formulated, but a perfect algorithm, a perfect proof, must be found to find an answer.

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Bibliography

Baldacchino, Joseph. Out of Many, One—Or Chaos (National Humanities Bulletin, Vol. V, No. 

1, 1994). National Humanities Institute, 2010. Accessed 3 March 2019.

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Bandes, Susan A. “What Roles Do Emotions Play in the Law?” Emotion Researcher, 2016. 

Accessed 21 April 2019.

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Dickens, Charles. Hard Times. Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 1997. Accessed 22 April 2019.

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Panza, Marco. Synthese: Logic and Mathematical Reasoning (Vol. 134, No. 1,2). Springer, 

January – February 2003. Accessed 25 February 2019.