Re: [math-fun] Is mathematical truth "real" ?
This was basically my point in the attempted conversation with the molecular biologist: Why do I believe in *physical* truth? Because as instruments improved we have been able to independently confirm physical measurements to a higher and higher degree of accuracy. Similarly with math: We can independently confirm mathematical truth (at least of the kind corresponding to a theorem). —Dan Mike Stay wrote: ----- I think mathematical truth is "real" in the sense that it is objective; it can be independently verified. Mathematicians talk about discovering mathematical truth rather than inventing it. We can build mathematical gadgets in a similar way to building devices, but there are laws that govern their behavior in much the same way that physics governs the devices' behavior. On Mon, Apr 2, 2018 at 10:42 AM, Dan Asimov <dasimov@earthlink.net> wrote:
If this common discussion subject among mathematicians has come up in math-fun previously, it must have been a while ago:
Is mathematical truth real? I was reminded of this question when I happened to sit next to an esteemed molecular biologist who has strong opinions on the matter: He thinks math is "all in the brain" of humans who think about it. I could not convince him that math has any kind of independent existence — though I certainly believe it myself.
What do other think about this? I would say that mathematical truth is *at least* as real of a thing as physical truth.
Except in some cases you can choose different axioms in mathematics and change what was 'true' to 'false' or 'provable' to 'unprovable'. Brent On 4/2/2018 3:08 PM, Dan Asimov wrote:
This was basically my point in the attempted conversation with the molecular biologist: Why do I believe in *physical* truth? Because as instruments improved we have been able to independently confirm physical measurements to a higher and higher degree of accuracy.
Similarly with math: We can independently confirm mathematical truth (at least of the kind corresponding to a theorem).
—Dan
Mike Stay wrote: ----- I think mathematical truth is "real" in the sense that it is objective; it can be independently verified. Mathematicians talk about discovering mathematical truth rather than inventing it. We can build mathematical gadgets in a similar way to building devices, but there are laws that govern their behavior in much the same way that physics governs the devices' behavior.
On Mon, Apr 2, 2018 at 10:42 AM, Dan Asimov <dasimov@earthlink.net> wrote:
If this common discussion subject among mathematicians has come up in math-fun previously, it must have been a while ago:
Is mathematical truth real? I was reminded of this question when I happened to sit next to an esteemed molecular biologist who has strong opinions on the matter: He thinks math is "all in the brain" of humans who think about it. I could not convince him that math has any kind of independent existence — though I certainly believe it myself.
What do other think about this? I would say that mathematical truth is *at least* as real of a thing as physical truth.
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And you can move a pendulum clock from Earth to orbit and it'll stop telling time. On Mon, Apr 2, 2018 at 5:20 PM, Brent Meeker <meekerdb@verizon.net> wrote:
Except in some cases you can choose different axioms in mathematics and change what was 'true' to 'false' or 'provable' to 'unprovable'.
Brent
On 4/2/2018 3:08 PM, Dan Asimov wrote:
This was basically my point in the attempted conversation with the molecular biologist: Why do I believe in *physical* truth? Because as instruments improved we have been able to independently confirm physical measurements to a higher and higher degree of accuracy.
Similarly with math: We can independently confirm mathematical truth (at least of the kind corresponding to a theorem).
—Dan
Mike Stay wrote: ----- I think mathematical truth is "real" in the sense that it is objective; it can be independently verified. Mathematicians talk about discovering mathematical truth rather than inventing it. We can build mathematical gadgets in a similar way to building devices, but there are laws that govern their behavior in much the same way that physics governs the devices' behavior.
On Mon, Apr 2, 2018 at 10:42 AM, Dan Asimov <dasimov@earthlink.net> wrote:
If this common discussion subject among mathematicians has come up in math-fun previously, it must have been a while ago:
Is mathematical truth real? I was reminded of this question when I happened to sit next to an esteemed molecular biologist who has strong opinions on the matter: He thinks math is "all in the brain" of humans who think about it. I could not convince him that math has any kind of independent existence — though I certainly believe it myself.
What do other think about this? I would say that mathematical truth is *at least* as real of a thing as physical truth.
-----
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-- Mike Stay - metaweta@gmail.com http://www.math.ucr.edu/~mike http://reperiendi.wordpress.com
I believe that's based on a physical theory. Brent On 4/2/2018 4:30 PM, Mike Stay wrote:
And you can move a pendulum clock from Earth to orbit and it'll stop telling time.
On Mon, Apr 2, 2018 at 5:20 PM, Brent Meeker <meekerdb@verizon.net> wrote:
Except in some cases you can choose different axioms in mathematics and change what was 'true' to 'false' or 'provable' to 'unprovable'.
Brent
On 4/2/2018 3:08 PM, Dan Asimov wrote:
This was basically my point in the attempted conversation with the molecular biologist: Why do I believe in *physical* truth? Because as instruments improved we have been able to independently confirm physical measurements to a higher and higher degree of accuracy.
Similarly with math: We can independently confirm mathematical truth (at least of the kind corresponding to a theorem).
—Dan
Mike Stay wrote: ----- I think mathematical truth is "real" in the sense that it is objective; it can be independently verified. Mathematicians talk about discovering mathematical truth rather than inventing it. We can build mathematical gadgets in a similar way to building devices, but there are laws that govern their behavior in much the same way that physics governs the devices' behavior.
On Mon, Apr 2, 2018 at 10:42 AM, Dan Asimov <dasimov@earthlink.net> wrote:
If this common discussion subject among mathematicians has come up in math-fun previously, it must have been a while ago:
Is mathematical truth real? I was reminded of this question when I happened to sit next to an esteemed molecular biologist who has strong opinions on the matter: He thinks math is "all in the brain" of humans who think about it. I could not convince him that math has any kind of independent existence — though I certainly believe it myself.
What do other think about this? I would say that mathematical truth is *at least* as real of a thing as physical truth.
_______________________________________________ math-fun mailing list math-fun@mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/math-fun
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participants (3)
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Brent Meeker -
Dan Asimov -
Mike Stay