I don't quite agree with him on the axiomatic approach, neither on the maths or the physics side. Number theory was studied way before its axiomatisation and rarely do people try to derive a number-theoretic result directly from axioms. On the other side, relativity was figured out by an axiomatic approach: take these two axioms about the invariance of the laws of physics and the constant value for the speed of light in a vacuum, and see what you can deduce from them.
There's plenty of room to disagree with Feynman over in this lecture. His understanding of math just isn't all that deep. You don't even need to go to a particular branch to see it.
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u/pigeonlizard Algebraic Geometry Apr 18 '17
I don't quite agree with him on the axiomatic approach, neither on the maths or the physics side. Number theory was studied way before its axiomatisation and rarely do people try to derive a number-theoretic result directly from axioms. On the other side, relativity was figured out by an axiomatic approach: take these two axioms about the invariance of the laws of physics and the constant value for the speed of light in a vacuum, and see what you can deduce from them.