I always loved math, but I was never interested in pursuing it. Why? Because I couldn’t find meaning or purpose in it. I was fascinated by people, social justice, and the unique differences amongst the human population. I wanted to alleviate suffering in the world, and I couldn’t see how solving equations could do that.
My parents encouraged me to pursue math, but I was determined: I wasn’t going to spend my life crunching numbers when there was meaning to be found in the world. I would persist with my search for meaning and purpose, and I was sure neither of those would be found in mathematics.
As I learned more, though, I realized that I couldn’t have been more wrong.
The universe has meaning
What I hadn’t realized then is something I’ve come to believe deeply now: everything in the universe has meaning. Even math.
The universe is beautiful and has “majesty, order, and loveliness” (Caldecott, 2009). Creation points to divine realities (St. Thomas Aquinas; Pope Francis, 2015), which we can discover or rather, uncover, bit by bit, and piece by piece, through academic pursuit and exploration.
The search for meaning in science
Now, as a social scientist at Felician University, I study the human person and search for meaning in the firing of neurons, the development of neural pathways, and the release of hormones such as oxytocin. I invite my students, too, to find meaning in the design of the human person.
It’s fascinating to explore how we’re wired for love, connection, and wonder. I enjoy every moment of this—but now, I realize that there is meaning in other disciplines, too—even math.
At Felician, in fact, we have an incredible mathematics department who clearly appreciate, and share, beauty in mathematics.
Meaning and Purpose in Math
Pope Leo XIV studied math
When I found out that Pope Leo XIV studied both math and philosophy at Villanova University, I felt a renewed excitement about finding meaning in math. I was reminded that through it, we can experience awe and wonder, and glimpse eternal realities.
The Pythagoreans delighted in math
I’m not the only one excited about finding meaning in math. Mathematicians for centuries have delighted in the beauty and wonder of mathematical theories. Dating back to around 500 BC, the Pythagoreans appreciated mathematics as the “order of the universe” and “identical with the essence of beauty itself,” as “beauty comes from meaningful inner order” (Caldecott, 2009, p. 14).
Modern-day mathematician finds meaning in math and faith
Modern-day mathematicians delight in the beauty and meaning of mathematics, too. Dr. Talithia Williams, a mathematics professor at Harvey Mudd College, describes her experiences of meaning and purpose in both faith and mathematics, noting that “both mathematics and religion deal with this, idea of truth.” They both, she notes, “share a love of order and harmony,” adding that the Fibonacci numbers as an example of that love and harmony which evokes “awe and, wonder.” She writes:
“I think part of my love for math and statistics was, seeing the beauty and the complexity of it and the wonder of it and knowing that it’s so much bigger than me. The deeper I got into math and stats, the more I realized there’s so much I don’t understand…And I think the same is true with faith and spirituality. The deeper you get, you realize that there’s so much that you don’t know, or understand.” –Dr. Talithia Williams
Dr. John Lennox is another mathematician who finds God in his studies.
Join the search for meaning in Math
Whether or not you believe in God, there’s an invitation here—to search for beauty, meaning, and purpose in math.
Teachers can invite students to contemplate the relationship between mathematics and the universe; and to explore meaning and purpose through the study of numbers, patterns, and equations. In fact, if you’re interested in exploring ways in which beauty can be incorporated into education, check out this article that Dr. Jeffrey Herrmann and I published last year in Frontiers in Education.
Students can recognize the immense beauty of mathematics, and try to appreciate it while performing calculations and solving for the unknown.
Overall, let’s adopt a new approach to math, one which captures hearts and minds, revealing at least a bit of what is otherwise unknown.
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