Ambiguous: A Mathematical Dream Turned To Reality

(Book Review of A Certain Ambiguity)

            Ambiguity, as we all know, means uncertainty or undefined. It is a state of vagueness from the truth. This was the main highlight of next book review in this course. I have read different kinds of novels and this next reading material would be very interesting.

          “Wow, a novel with a calculator on a cover!” These were my first words when I saw the front cover of the book entitled “A Certain Ambiguity” by Gaurav Suri and Hartosh Singh Bal. I expect the book to be full with mathematical stuff as the front cover shows a scientific calculator (Gasp). This kind of genre is a mathematical novel, and I got to see it rarely. The novel revolves on mathematics and philosophy and how these two elements lead to the human understanding of mundane things. Mathematics was used as an inspiration, a tool for achieving one’s dream.

           First words of the novel revolve on the young Ravi Kapoor, the main character. It was a throwback scene where he remembers his mathematician grandfather, Vijay Sahni. Ravi received a calculator as a birthday gift partnered with a math problem which he solved on the calculator. He was distracted with this that he almost skipped his dinner. Ravi was not allowed by his mother to leave the table but his grandfather’s encouragements have won. The warm relationship of Ravi with his grandfather was well expression. Also, Ravi’s intuitive skills and love for learning had sparked motivation for him to pursue a job in the mathematical realm. While Ravi is experiencing the ecstatic events in his younger years, his grandfather succumbed to death.

            Ravi was then getting ready for college. He was accepted to Stanford University and inclined on a career in economics, leaving his dreams to be in the mathematical career. He then met Professor Nico and shares the same specialization with Ravi’s grandfather. The novel then continues with the intertwining threads of philosophy and mathematics. Ravi’s research on his grandfather’s imprisonment focused on philosophy the transcripts which cost him to imprisonment. Also, among the topics focused by Ravi’s grandfather is on the Euclidean and Non-Euclidian Geometry. The imprisonment was due to the violation of the blasphemy law where said against Christianity in New Jersey. Professor Nico’s lecture, on the other hand, discusses on the importance of infinity and related it to the Continuum Hypothesis.

        Mathematical topics got also a share in the book. It is impressive how the authors were able to incorporate the works of famous mathematicians like Zeno, Galileo, Bhaskara, Pythagoras, Cantor (which he described having Sherlock Holmes’ nose), Baruch, Euclid and Riemann. Among the topics discussed on the book ranged from Zeno’s paradoxes and infinitude of primers through Godel’s Incompleteness and Paul Cohen’s Cosistency theorems. Zeno and Cohen are known to have master’s degree in mathematics and have significant contributions to the field. They heavily rely on philosophical discussions in studying the concepts and recognized the significance of the axiomatic method. Professor Nico’s lectures emphasized the set theory concept and the possible relationship of it with the Continuum Hypothesis. Again, the works of Ravi’s grandfather on the Euclidian and Non-Euclidian Geometry was cited between the conversations of the former with Judge Taylor. By looking at the philosophical aspects of the judge, he cannot connect to the modern monotheistic religions because it breaks down immediately as soon as the first deductions are made from it about actual human lives.

           I think the title itself was connoted by the ambiguous principles and beliefs of Vijay but in actuality, this is absolutely concrete. The conversation heated up when Vijay talked with Judge Taylor, who just wants to stick on his decision. Taylor would not bargain his belief as a Christian and how philosophy mended mathematics and existence reasoning. Ravi ended contemplating on everything what was written.

           In the last chapters, Ravi was torn between choosing his desire to be an economist or pursue a career in the academe as a mathematician. Weighing both possibilities, the reading materials – newspapers and court notes opened his mind and recognize his father commitment to motivate him and pursue mathematics. Eventually, he was aided by Professor Nico on pursing his dream to be a mathematician and soon his grandfather’s dreams would be realized. We learn Ravi chose to pursue career on mathematics over economics. The death of Ravi’s grandfather shows that death comes to everyone. The only thing that will bug us is we don’t know where and when. We should just prepare for it and leave a legacy that everyone will able to cherish and reflect.

        Oh, I almost forgot to mention, Ravi was also married to Claire where she met at the infinity course. I suggest that the authors should expand on this part. Truth, faith and religion, and mathematics and life added spice to the book. The fusion of philosophy and mathematics were unbelievable. The book is non-fiction work, as it shares some present issues in the society (e.g. religious intolerance of laws). The theme on the life’s perspective may lead you to think critically as it clashes with your beliefs. The outline of the story was well laid out. This masterpiece is very spectacular as the authors were able to present mathematics as a career. The book is mainly a work of fiction, but it succeeds infallibly in meeting mathematics with a human face. Overall, this book must be cited with recognition. This is another book capable of combining philosophy and mathematics.