> no state grants or public research funds for mathematics during the 17th century.
Since the state was the wealthy privates, for all practical purposes there was by patronage (or the wealthy elite themselves).
Since the state was the wealthy privates, for all practical purposes there was by patronage (or the wealthy elite themselves).
I'm another part of the general public, and I accept their justification.
We can all vote, or use whatever levers our political system gives us to show our acceptance/rejection of basic research, but IMO basic research is absolutely necessary.
Assuming this is true, how did they justify their work, which had, at the time, no practical application?
So... network effects... same way most people get jobs, these days.
Art got patrons, too - what practical use is it?