You expressed my thought precisely!
Euwe was a math-teacher when he became WC (in 1935) and went on
teaching math for many years after that.
In fact he was the last amature-WC!
Adolf Anderssen (19th century) was a math teacher as well.
But that does not mean that I belive in a causal relationship between
being good in math and good in chess or vice versa. I think it is more
a positive correlation, through intelligence, ambition, intuition, hard
work, etc..
As a brief aside, Philidor was known for music having had around 20
operas to his credit. Of course, there is thought to be a connection
between mathematics and music as well.
-ww-
All you have done is to point out a high correlation between people who are good at math and
science, and people who play chess. You have failed to demonstrate a causal relationship between
the two. Instead of dottering oafs being turned into brilliant scientists by playing chess, it may be
the case that people who are good at math/science might simply be more predisposed to play
chess in the first place.
I couldn't agree more. I struggled with maths (but never sciences or
music) at school, and I now know it was becasue I wasn't taught some
of the basic principles... ever tried to build a tower with the bottom
floor missing.
Same goes from languages too. I remeber sitting through lessons
feeling stupid because I didn't understand verb tables. It only occured
to me when I was an adult that I couldn't know what the pluperfect
tense was because noone had never told me what it was.
If a child doesn't know something that he/she is expected to know
they feel like it's because they are stupid, and therefore can't and
never will be able to do it. So they stop trying.
Next Question..
28 Oct '02 19:23
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