Is Math Discovered or Invented? (Forgery and Plagiarism)
One absurd answer to whether math is discovered or invented: forgery and plagiarism.
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Cartoon by Ben Orlin, Math with Bad Drawings. https://cartoons.mathwithbaddrawings.com/2025-07-14-is-math-discovered-or-invented--is-math-discovered-or-invented-forgery-and-plagiarism/ (CC BY-NC 4.0)Transcript
"Both. Pure math is invented nonsense, passed off as if it were authored by nature. Thus, it is best described as a forgery or a fabrication. Meanwhile, applied math is the human attempt to take credit for discovering nature's work. Thus, it is best described as plagiarism or intellectual theft." [Books: "PURE MATH: a work of fiction → discovery!!" / "APPLIED MATH by nature → me and my good brain"]