A crisis of faith

I'm grading papers.

My students seem happy, unburdened by the shackles of linear argument. Untroubled by the stifling rigidity of syllogism. They have fully embraced a faith based method of proof that eschews detailed questioning and explanation. They believe in mathematical truth more deeply than I ever have.

And as I said, they seem happy.

I could stand to be more happy.

"It clearly follows..." is not a cop out, it is an expression of our faith in the correctness of things. There is no need to define truth. Analogy is sufficient, indeed it is best. Mathematical allegory brings math to the masses.

Away with the walled garden.

I break my red pen and start grading papers with a star shaped stamp. Everybody gets a star.

In my new church of Mathematics, everybody is welcome. You just have to have believe.