Is history as important, or more important, than Maths?

[Trivun]

I hate mathematicians. Granted numbers have their essential uses, but the idea that you can sum up the origin of the universe with a stream of numbers that mankind invented (they're NOT universal constants, merely arbitrary frames of reference) is frankly arrogant and absurd.

Ummmmm, as a mathematician myself, I have to disagree with you. If it wasn't for numbers (that humans apparently 'invented'), then you wouldn't be sitting at a computer reading this now, nor would you have been able to type your message. Here's a quick example as to the base importance of numbers. You have two ears. Now, you can argue as much as you like that people invented that number, and that's true, but it doesn't change the universal fact that you still have a fixed amount of ears. The number 'two' is simply a term that we came up with to describe that fixed amount, it doesn't affect the amount in any way. Numbers may be invented by humans, but only as a way to describe universal constants and rules. So your point is invalid.

Oh, and if you bother to do any research into modern science or maths then you will find that your comment about summing up the origin of the universe with numbers is also false, because that's exactly what scientists are doing right now. And as I say, that's because numbers are in fact universal constants, not just arbitrary reference frames...

Anyway, back on topic. Fine, I study maths. My younger brother wants to do History at university. And having studied history at school (and still having an interest to this day in the subject) I can safely say that both are equally important. The only real difference is that they are important in different ways and fields of study. It's like comparing cheese to apples. Both are tasty, but in different ways, and any further comparison is just pointless and illogical...

 

[Jerious1154]

In terms of practicality, it has to be mathematics. 90% of what you do in any given day requires math. Cars, lamps, televisions, computers, clocks, clothing, refrigerators, eyeglasses, mechanical pencils, buildings, and pretty much everything else requires some form of math in order to exist. You can argue that you don't need to know math, but our entire way of life is built upon the application of math.

History, on the other hand, is important simply for its own sake. It's important to know where societies have been in the past.

 

[blind_dead_mcjones]

they're both equally important, both are subsets of knowledge, and knowledge in itself is highly important regardless of what form it may take

 

[Duskwaith]

Well if History was least important then the likes of Pythagoras and his work would have largely passed into obscurity by now.

Id say an there on an even power

 

[NoNameMcgee]

I have Dyscalculia so maths can fuck off and die in my opinion

History on the other hand can be pretty interesting.

I suppose maths is more important though despite my personal bias, since we use it in everyday life.

 

[Omikron009]

Because most of the things you learn in math class are completely useless, I'd say history is more important. It's also infinitely more interesting.

Just because you don't see a use doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

More than one math teacher and my tutor have admitted to me that the only time you'll use the majority of the stuff you learn in high school math is if you become a high school math teacher. The average person will get no usage of 90% of the things they're taught in math class.

 

[Thaliur]

History is more important than math. The average person isnt likely to need to know much more than basic math (addition subtraction division multiplacation percentages and fractions) where as history can have a much larger effect on the average person purely because most of us live in democracies that encourage us to vote and get involved with our representatives.

And knowing about events that happened long before any of those to be voted on will help your decision because...?

This may have been said but an 'unbias opinion' is a paradox, there is no such thing.

Technically, it's not a paradox, it's an oxymoron

 

[emeraldrafael]

Depends on what you're going to be. A history major doesnt need calculas and an Engineer doesnt need to know the entire history of Prussia.

Now, just flat out.... Yes, I think its just as important. its good to know where a place (us for example, as a nation) comes from. Its also good to see the follies of man and its triumphs so as either to avoid or replicate them respectively. A basic understanding of both is important to someone.

And if you dont agree, Let me say this. Assume when you go to work (if you dont already, if you do, just asume a new policy goes into effect) where your bus decides to pay you in tokens, of whihc you can only spend in stores owned by the company you work for. These prices leave you ina constant debt to your employer, and you have no option of leaving until you pay off these debts (there is no bankruptcy, you pansy). UNless you can give an example of this happening once before.

Yeah... History looks pretty good right about now.

 

[Clarke3000]

I think some English should have some importance because Maths isn't a proper term.
OT
I think history and math are equally important because those who fail to learn from history is doomed to repeat it, and we use Math to break down and understand our world

Maths is a proper term in places other than the US. It is short for mathematics not mathematic.

OT: Since maths is the basis of practically everything, I'll go with that. In the end, everything can be put down to numbers.

Spoiler: Evidence

Sorry for being ignorant. I live in Canada and never heard the terms maths before and to me it didn't sound like a proper term so I assumed it was an error. Well I guess what they say about assuming is true.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

I think some English should have some importance because Maths isn't a proper term.
OT
I think history and math are equally important because those who fail to learn from history is doomed to repeat it, and we use Math to break down and understand our world

Maths is a proper term in places other than the US. It is short for mathematics not mathematic.

OT: Since maths is the basis of practically everything, I'll go with that. In the end, everything can be put down to numbers.

Spoiler: Evidence

Sorry for being ignorant. I live in Canada and never heard the terms maths before and to me it didn't sound like a proper term so I assumed it was an error. Well I guess what they say about assuming is true.

No problem, happy to bring new information to people.

 

[FinalHeart95]

"hurr durr vs thread"

I'd say they're both equally important, but unless you intend to work with something that relates to maths, I don't think the stuff you learn after like 8th grade is of any importance at all. It's not like I'm going to pull out a paper and start making calculations on which store is the most affordable all of a sudden.

You could say the same with knowing specifics in history though. You're never really gonna need to know specific dates or anything.

I say it goes both ways. You need to know the basics of both. I'm more of a math person though.

 

[Kuroneko97]

While math is a very important part of life, History teaches us about our mistakes and how to ignore them. One of my old history teachers reminded our class very often "Those who fail to study history are doomed to repeat it."

Considering the war we're in and the depression we've gotten into, I assume our government fell asleep in history.

 

[IkeGreil29]

Alright. I'm going to argue that no subject is more important than the other.

What we've been nailed through our skulls since childhood is to be good academically. That if we try and innovate, or try arts, or don't go by the rules, everything will result in a life of utter uselessness and or failure. That's why we have no huge advancements recently. We have been confined into a bubble where we can safely have a good life, but there is a lot more out there that we should be able to do.

I personally think that social studies can be more important than math, if you yourself enjoy ss more than math and are either planning on a ss based college degree, or just plain like history and the study of humans as social beings and are not planning on piling on top of that huge scientific studies or art studies.

Problem is, like I stated on top, we are usually encouraged to like Math more, because we can do something in computers, the so-called future. Our geography teacher always told us that here in Mexico we have tons of valuable cubic kilometers of sea that we don't exploit. The marine biology department of the UNAM and the other universities of Mexico that offer this and other non-traditional areas of study are full of foreigners. But since we can't see beyond maths and physics and computers, we're stuck into a society where no one can stand out.

Long story short: depending on what you want to be (Another brick in the wall, or actually stand out of the bunch), Social Studies can be more important than math, and vice-versa.

I would like to expand on this more, but I have to go to bed now.

 

[Pingieking]

Without history there is no future

Without math there is no present or future. Math makes up such a huge part of science and technology that any kind of technological progress has to start with applied mathematics.

Those who fail to study history are doomed to repeat it. Those who fail to study math are doomed to a stagnant society. Want a good example? Look at Europe after the fall of Rome, and at China from 15th to 20th century.

So they're both important. Which is more important depends on the situation.