Mathematics and Poetry, with a View towards Machine Learning

Dear Colleagues,

We start by proposing three guiding questions for our Special Issue:

(i) What are the similarities (and differences) between mathematical problems and poetic works?

(ii) What kind of mathematical problems can be solved by computers?

(iii) Could computers write poetry with the help of Machine Learning techniques?

Let us comment now on the connections and intermediate levels between mathematics and poetry.

The Fields Medalist Cedric Villani explores these topics in his recent book, “Mathematics is the Poetry of Science” (2020). A great lover of poetry, he insists that the two are intrinsically linked in their aim of both tackling the complexities of our reality as well as distancing us from it. 

The recipient of the “Golden Wreath” for 2019, the main award of the “Struga Poetry Evenings”, the Romanian poet Ana Blandiana, has written poetry inspired from scientific concepts.

In a series of papers on the meetings between the famous poet Nichita Stănescu and the Academician Solomon Marcus, by the author of this Special Issue (see “Caiete Critice” 3/2018, etc.), several intermediate levels between mathematics and poetry are considered.

The above three questions could be considered in the framework of the Big Data Theory and of Machine Learning. For example, Sophia is a social humanoid robot developed by Hong-Kong-based company Hanson Robotics. In October 2017, Sophia became a Saudi Arabian citizen, and it has participated in many high-profile interviews. Hanson designed Sophia to be a suitable companion for the elderly at nursing homes, but it can also be used while treating coronavirus-infected people. If this type of robot could improvise poetry or solve some basic mathematical problems, it could be a better companion.

The focus of this Special Issue will be on the link between mathematics and poetry. High-quality papers on Machine Learning, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence may be accepted, especially if they shed some light on the above guiding questions.

Dr. Florin Felix Nichita
Guest Editor

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