From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Msuck: nntp://news.gmane.io/gmane.science.mathematics.categories/5401 Path: news.gmane.org!not-for-mail From: Andree Ehresmann Newsgroups: gmane.science.mathematics.categories Subject: Re: A well kept secret Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:39:31 +0100 Message-ID: Reply-To: Andree Ehresmann NNTP-Posting-Host: lo.gmane.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain;charset=ISO-8859-1;DelSp="Yes";format="flowed" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-Trace: ger.gmane.org 1261526592 26019 80.91.229.12 (23 Dec 2009 00:03:12 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet@ger.gmane.org NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:03:12 +0000 (UTC) To: categories@mta.ca Original-X-From: categories@mta.ca Wed Dec 23 01:03:05 2009 Return-path: Envelope-to: gsmc-categories@m.gmane.org Original-Received: from mailserv.mta.ca ([138.73.1.1]) by lo.gmane.org with esmtp (Exim 4.50) id 1NNEgx-0000it-Iz for gsmc-categories@m.gmane.org; Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:03:03 +0100 Original-Received: from Majordom by mailserv.mta.ca with local (Exim 4.61) (envelope-from ) id 1NNEFT-0006MV-PT for categories-list@mta.ca; Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:34:39 -0400 Content-Disposition: inline Original-Sender: categories@mta.ca Precedence: bulk Xref: news.gmane.org gmane.science.mathematics.categories:5401 Archived-At: Here are some comments on the discussion about category theory: 1. I testify that categories can be fruitfully introduced to =20 undergraduates. In the late sixties, I followed 3 cohorts of students =20 from their entrance at the university (just after the Baccalaureat) up =20 to their graduation. I introduced category theory in the mid of their =20 first year and thoroughly used it later on in my courses on Algebra, =20 Topology, Differential Calculus and functional spaces, and Algebraic =20 Topology. (All these courses have been multigraphed in Amiens.) Since =20 the university in Amiens was only beginning to develop, there were not =20 many students, but most of them seemed to enjoy categories and about =20 10% of those who completed the cycle went on to do research (generally =20 using categories) and obtained university positions. However I had to stop my experiment because several of my colleagues =20 did not appreciate categories:(t was a very bad time for them in =20 France in the early 70's. 2. Applications of categories begin to be welcomed in the most varied =20 scientific domains. An example is our general model "Memory Evolutive =20 Systems" for 'natural' complex autonomous systems, such as biological =20 or social systems; when we first introduced it in the 90's, people =20 were somewhat skeptical, but now more people accept it, in particular =20 cognitive scientists are taking a real interest in its application to =20 cognitive systems (our model MENS). 3. Thus, though one of the older living "veterans" of the 60's "war", =20 I am not pessimistic (as John Baez seems to imply). I think my =20 generation has lost a battle, partially because of too much =20 precipitation and not always enough diplomacy, but I feel that the =20 youngsters are winning the war and I'ld try to help them as much as =20 possible for I have kept all my enthusiasm. So best wishes to the categories and to all their friends for 2010 Andree [For admin and other information see: http://www.mta.ca/~cat-dist/ ]