My question is if there are explorations of where "the aesthetic value of having one's code be math-like" is explored at a more objective level. Aesthetics are nice, but they do little to explore the ultimate goal of getting things done.
I confess I really like the exploration in SICP of the value and place of imperative programming versus declarative programming. I do think there is a space for both, but I worry at the gymnastics we go through to never mix our metaphor away from "equation like" and over to "directions like."
Aesthetics is really not my area, so I don't know how aesthetic claims are generally evaluated in a formal or objective way. If the ultimate goal is getting things done, I would suggest ignoring the aesthetics talk.
I confess I really like the exploration in SICP of the value and place of imperative programming versus declarative programming. I do think there is a space for both, but I worry at the gymnastics we go through to never mix our metaphor away from "equation like" and over to "directions like."