TITLE: Sometimes You Have To Just Start Talking
AUTHOR: Eugene Wallingford
DATE: May 06, 2021  3:19 PM
DESC: 
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BODY:
 I have been enjoying a few of James Propp's essays recently.
 Last month he wrote about the creation of zero.  In
<a href="https://mathenchant.wordpress.com/2021/04/16/who-needs-zero/">
   Who Needs Zero</a>,
 he writes:

<blockquote><em>
 But in mathematics, premature attempts to reach philosophical
 clarity can get in the way of progress both at the individual
 level and at the cultural level.  Sometimes you have to just
 start talking before you understand what you're talking about.
</em></blockquote>

 This reminded me of a passage by Iris Murdoch in <em>Metaphysics
 as a Guide to Morals</em>, which I encountered in 
<a href="https://society.robinsloan.com/archive/cold-start/">
   one of Robin Sloan's newsletters</a>:

<blockquote><em>
 The achievement of coherence is itself ambiguous.  Coherence
 is not necessarily good, and one must question its cost.
 Better sometimes to remain confused.
</em></blockquote>

 My brain seems hardwired to seek out and create abstractions.
 Perhaps it's just a deeply ingrained habit.  Even so I am a
 pragmatist at heart.  As Propp says, "Zero is as zero does."

 Allowing oneself to remain confused, to forge ahead without
 having reached clarity yet, is essential to doing research,
 or to learning anything at all, really.
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