> it is not as if knowledge once understood remains difficult
What do you mean by this? Once a person has understood something, it may no longer be difficult for them, but it can certainly still be difficult for those who have not understood it yet. And we humans know of no way of transmitting understanding to another person without having that person exert some effort.
I don't know where you get the impression that mathematicians at large are withholding understanding. In fact, many mathematicians share their lecture notes freely online, share their articles freely on arxiv etc.
If your complaint is that these texts are written in the language of the field and thereby not accessible for laymen: This is the case for any advanced knowledge, because it builds on more basic knowledge that a person must first acquire. That is not withholding knowledge.
What do you mean by this? Once a person has understood something, it may no longer be difficult for them, but it can certainly still be difficult for those who have not understood it yet. And we humans know of no way of transmitting understanding to another person without having that person exert some effort.
I don't know where you get the impression that mathematicians at large are withholding understanding. In fact, many mathematicians share their lecture notes freely online, share their articles freely on arxiv etc.
If your complaint is that these texts are written in the language of the field and thereby not accessible for laymen: This is the case for any advanced knowledge, because it builds on more basic knowledge that a person must first acquire. That is not withholding knowledge.