I didn't sign the Fields medallists' letter

Timothy Gowers, a Fields medallist, explains why he declined to sign a letter authored by 25 other Fields medallists, despite agreeing with much of its content. He illustrates his perspective through a childhood anecdote about attempting to prove Fermat's Last Theorem, demonstrating how the learning process matters more than achieving the final solution. The post suggests Gowers' disagreement with the letter's overall message or framing, though his specific reasons for not signing are not fully detailed in this excerpt.