Was mathematics discovered or invented?
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Cells didn’t “divide” until we had invented the concept of division. Sure they did something; first there was 1 cell, now there are 2. So is that “addition”? No, it’s something else.
Division needed to be invented as a concept before we could describe what the cells were doing. It’s not the action of division but the mathematical concept of division that was invented. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to describe what we observed. Without inventing the scientific principle for example, we wouldn’t be able to describe the world around us. It would still exist but we’d be describing it as “Gods” or “Magic” – both invented human constructs.
The basic mathematical constructs of numbers, addition, subtraction, multiplication & division had to be invented to observe & describe our world, before discoveries using those principles could be made. Had we invented different forms of observations & descriptions, then our discoveries would be different, even if the patterns in nature remained the same.
Division needed to be invented as a concept before we could describe what the cells were doing. It’s not the action of division but the mathematical concept of division that was invented. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to describe what we observed. Without inventing the scientific principle for example, we wouldn’t be able to describe the world around us. It would still exist but we’d be describing it as “Gods” or “Magic” – both invented human constructs.
The basic mathematical constructs of numbers, addition, subtraction, multiplication & division had to be invented to observe & describe our world, before discoveries using those principles could be made. Had we invented different forms of observations & descriptions, then our discoveries would be different, even if the patterns in nature remained the same.
Last edited by An0n0m0us; Jun 27, 2017 at 03:36 PM.
Maths, Physics & Chemistry though are human constructs; they are not natural phenomena, they are concepts invented by human to describe natural phenomena.
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Ok. We invented away of describing discovered natural laws - I obviously agree with you on that.
Whether we gave them names or not though, the principles of multiplication, division etc would obviously still exist.
It's the seemingly rigid nature of physics and maths that has caused many very bright people to believe we and the universe are all just part of a giant simulation, a complex game in the computer of some super advanced intelligence. The non random nature of physics and maths are cited as proof of computer programming rather than natural evolution, putting the likelihood of simulation/non simulation as high as 50/50. On that basis we have simply 'discovered' the maths behind our existence. Maybe.
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It's the seemingly rigid nature of physics and maths that has caused many very bright people to believe we and the universe are all just part of a giant simulation, a complex game in the computer of some super advanced intelligence. The non random nature of physics and maths are cited as proof of computer programming rather than natural evolution, putting the likelihood of simulation/non simulation as high as 50/50. On that basis we have simply 'discovered' the maths behind our existence. Maybe.
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One of many examples of mans desire to label and attempt to control everything in the universe.
Divide and conquer.
The only reason 1+1 = 2 is because someone came up with the concept then told every body that it was so, it's called brain washing and is the basis of all education, to make sure we all think the same and ultimately do as we are told.
Divide and conquer.
The only reason 1+1 = 2 is because someone came up with the concept then told every body that it was so, it's called brain washing and is the basis of all education, to make sure we all think the same and ultimately do as we are told.
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One of many examples of mans desire to label and attempt to control everything in the universe.
Divide and conquer.
The only reason 1+1 = 2 is because someone came up with the concept then told every body that it was so, it's called brain washing and is the basis of all education, to make sure we all think the same and ultimately do as we are told.
Divide and conquer.
The only reason 1+1 = 2 is because someone came up with the concept then told every body that it was so, it's called brain washing and is the basis of all education, to make sure we all think the same and ultimately do as we are told.
One of many examples of mans desire to label and attempt to control everything in the universe.
Divide and conquer.
The only reason 1+1 = 2 is because someone came up with the concept then told every body that it was so, it's called brain washing and is the basis of all education, to make sure we all think the same and ultimately do as we are told.
Divide and conquer.
The only reason 1+1 = 2 is because someone came up with the concept then told every body that it was so, it's called brain washing and is the basis of all education, to make sure we all think the same and ultimately do as we are told.
One of many examples of mans desire to label and attempt to control everything in the universe.
Divide and conquer.
The only reason 1+1 = 2 is because someone came up with the concept then told every body that it was so, it's called brain washing and is the basis of all education, to make sure we all think the same and ultimately do as we are told.
Divide and conquer.
The only reason 1+1 = 2 is because someone came up with the concept then told every body that it was so, it's called brain washing and is the basis of all education, to make sure we all think the same and ultimately do as we are told.
As a matter of interest, pre educational brain washing, what does 1+1 add up to on planet Ditchy?
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My good lady studied pure mathematics at university. I even attended the odd lecture, even though I wasn't at university, fascinating listening(even though it was way over my head). Discussing proof of the existance of 'zero' I seem to remember and also mathematics in conjunction with astronomy which I managed to grasp, well some of the sentences made sense
There were students who were fully dialled in and really understood their subject, they were asking difficult questions of the lecturers
There were students who were fully dialled in and really understood their subject, they were asking difficult questions of the lecturers
Last edited by andy97; Jun 28, 2017 at 04:36 PM.
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I do my own thing... never been a follower.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Another example... you assume that I some how think i'm superior... when actually I don't... I just see things for what they are... not what someone tries to tell me they are... It's called independent thought... which is something that most have accepted their conditioning not to have... which again is called herd mentality.
I do my own thing... never been a follower.
I do my own thing... never been a follower.
:l ol1: