Note well that the article makes a strong point that any practical benefits of mathematics are, essentially, a side-effect, and even a distraction:
It would be bad enough if the culture were merely ignorant of mathematics, but what is far
worse is that people actually think they do know what math is about— and are apparently under
the gross misconception that mathematics is somehow useful to society! This is already a huge
difference between mathematics and the other arts. Mathematics is viewed by the culture as
some sort of tool for science and technology. Everyone knows that poetry and music are for pure
enjoyment and for uplifting and ennobling the human spirit (hence their virtual elimination from
the public school curriculum) but no, math is important.
Also see the first two stanzas of the dialogue between "SIMPLICIO" and "SALVIATI" that follow the above paragraph. I think, in other words, that the author would say that the "motivation" in pure mathematics papers is more of a pretext to be able to get published and continue one's work unobstructed, than something that the mathematicians themselves really care about.
It would be bad enough if the culture were merely ignorant of mathematics, but what is far worse is that people actually think they do know what math is about— and are apparently under the gross misconception that mathematics is somehow useful to society! This is already a huge difference between mathematics and the other arts. Mathematics is viewed by the culture as some sort of tool for science and technology. Everyone knows that poetry and music are for pure enjoyment and for uplifting and ennobling the human spirit (hence their virtual elimination from the public school curriculum) but no, math is important.
Also see the first two stanzas of the dialogue between "SIMPLICIO" and "SALVIATI" that follow the above paragraph. I think, in other words, that the author would say that the "motivation" in pure mathematics papers is more of a pretext to be able to get published and continue one's work unobstructed, than something that the mathematicians themselves really care about.