Final notes

Polish edition of Feynman’s “Lectures on Physics” (PWN, Warsaw 1965) in Volume 1,
Part 1, Page 17 contains the following note from Polish editor:
“Accomplished Polish physicist, professor Leopold Infeld used to say there are two types of lecturers. There are ones, lame kind, who seem to say during their lectures
– “Look how smart I am”; and they are others who say:” Look how simple it is”.
This note indicated that Feynman belonged to those who say:” Look how simple it is”. However, quite often we can experience that simple and understandable presentation of problems is perceived as not very scientific.
When I asked what is the value of simple and short proof of Fermat’s theorem, the answer was – no value, since Wiles’ proof has done it all.
The biggest value of Wiles’ proof is that it can be taught for full semester duration, while simple and short proof would require only 15 min.
Well, describing any complex problems in simple and friendly form requires a lot of effort. Thanks to such approach, a reader will easily understand a problem, thus most likely he/she will assess such work as of lesser value.
When something is presented in complex and unclear way, and a reader does not fully understand, it seems to him/her that this must be really smart. Very often such unclear descriptions do not allow for comprehensive and complete verification of their correctness. Writing this book, it took author 8 years. If there are any readers who find the formulation of this book helpful in understanding presented problems – the author will be completely satisfied.

(The end)