meisnewbie posted...
1) Merely because they were invented in mathematics first doesn't necessarily that it couldn't be invented in science, engineering when they were needed and when less brainpower was "lost". There is such a thing as an opportunity cost, although I don't think anyone can say for certain how much there is until we gain a better understanding of neurological basis of mathematical discoveries (and I probably would have to eat my words).
Well yeah, sure (one example that comes to mind is early particle physicists basically rederiving group theory because they didn't know it existed), but given how much of research involves a good deal of brilliance, I think it's reasonable to expect that on average things would be delayed.
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