4. Suppose that there is a mathematical pattern that allows
one to comprehend the order of the universe. How would that impact
the question of free will and determinism?
5. Are the concepts of free will and determinism mutually
exclusive? (or using a term from the course, disjoint)
6. Patterns are used everywhere in this film. For instance the
spiral pattern in the coffee creamer, the slinky, smoke, shells and
plants. In Chapter 1 of our text, we looked for hidden patterns in
number sequences, and (briefly) discussed the Fibonacci sequence
and the Golden Ratio, both of which have been (reliably) related to
some patterns in nature. How far can this be extended? To life, to
the universe? Can this concept be generalized? Is this belief an
underlying assumption that makes us study mathematics?
7. Men (or women) risks their minds in pursuit of a dangerous
obsession. Is the character of Max (in Pi) a fictionalization of
Cantor or Godel (or Boltzmann or Turing for that matter) as
described in “Dangerous Knowledge”? Why and/or why not.
8. It has been said that “one problem of mathematics is that
you can’t prove it (or even accept it) except on its own terms”. To
what extent does this apply to the understanding of this
film?
9. How much real math is actually in this film? There is
certainly some, the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio, but
there is also lost of numerology. Does this count as mathematics?
In your opinion, how much math is really in the film?
10. Aronofsky (the director) used the “hip hop pill montage”
to signify the start of each of Max’s migraine headaches. In the
montage, extreme camera angles, drastic contrasts in lighting and
strange music to create a manic atmosphere until the migraine
headache attack is over. The director repeats the same sequence
even though the hallucinations are different. Does the pattern,
which give the viewer a sense of familiarity with the attacks, work
well, or since each attack is unique, would it be better to make
each scene different?