[Avodah] Subject: Rambam and Pi - was Need For Secular Knowledge

[Zev Sero]

To put it in plain language, the very concept that one must have a 
rigorous mathematical proof for a proposition before one can state it as 
a fact didn't exist in the Rambam's day.  In his day it was considered 
acceptable to say "Look, pi is obviously an irrational number", and 
nobody would lift an eyebrow, because it *is* obvious.  Only later did 
mathematicians start to say, well, yes, it is obvious, but let's see if 
we can actually prove it.  And eventually they did so, and guess what, 
they confirmed what everyone including the Rambam already knew.

-- 
Zev Sero            A prosperous and healthy 2018 to all
zev at sero.name       Seek Jerusalem's peace; may all who love you prosper