The Crank and Abstract Truth
The term crank is often applied to persons who contradict rigorously proven mathematical theorems, such as the impossibility of squaring the circle by ruler and compass, or who deny extremely well established physical theories, such as the special theory of relativity, conservation of mass-energy, or a spheroid earth (See Flat Earth Society). More engineer-minded cranks may claim to have invented a magic compression algorithm or a perpetual motion / free energy machine.
However this doesn't apply to mathematics, which is not subject to such retractions of established results, notwithstanding nineteenth and early twentieth century discoveries in mathematical logic which may be popularly misunderstood as having overthrown prior mathematics. Rather, it is correct to say that mathematicians have gradually developed more encompassing abstractions which do not invalidate earlier mathematics but do often reinterpret them in new and expanded contexts. That is, previous mathematical knowledge has been enriched, not overthrown, by such discoveries as non-Euclidean geometry or Gödel's incompleteness theorems.
The mathematical cases provide a baseline for application of the epithet, since the nature of mainstream or for that matter learned, scientific opinion can change over time; however, irrationally rejecting established mathematical truth is archetypical crankery. Typically a crank is impervious to contrary evidence. Those who have studied the phenomenon of crankery agree that this is the essential defining characteristic of the crank: being impervious to facts, evidence, and rational inference.
Read more about this topic: Crank (person)
Famous quotes containing the words crank, abstract and/or truth:
“I review novels to make money, because it is easier for a sluggard to write an article a fortnight than a book a year, because the writer is soothed by the opiate of action, the crank by posing as a good journalist, and having an airhole. I dislike it. I do it and I am always resolving to give it up.”
—Cyril Connolly (1903–1974)
“The man who knows governments most completely is he who troubles himself least about a definition which shall give their essence. Enjoying an intimate acquaintance with all their particularities in turn, he would naturally regard an abstract conception in which these were unified as a thing more misleading than enlightening.”
—William James (1842–1910)
“All truth is crooked, time itself is a circle.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)