Re: Opinions on mathematics.

In article
<jack-0A4BC5.16490010122006@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
om>,
Michael Press <jack@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

Folks have talked about the how mathematics is
practiced and the nature of mathematical objects.
It is
difficult to address these matters without saying
'mathematical objects' and expecting to be
understood.
It looks like we are stuck with the notion of
mathematical objects.

From time to time someone tells me that mathematics
is
not science. I disagree with this assertion. The
reason
is that a mathematical object is a structure that
we
construct in our mind with the aid of writings and
diagrams. When doing mathematics we are mapping our

minds, and changing our minds. This is my outlook
in a
nutshell. Mathematics is a science. Our minds are
real.

Unicorns are a construction of our minds. By your
logic, are unicorns
real?

Sure. At least they can be seen as real as a mathematical object or even as a table. After all we don't have any other hint of the existence of the table than its perception through our senses. Unicorns and math objects are also perceptions and thus not substantially different from a table. The difference is only qualitative.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Opinions on mathematics.
    ... 'mathematical objects' and expecting to be understood. ... minds, and changing our minds. ... Unicorns are a construction of our minds. ... the same way as we take the mental construction of the natural numbers? ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: Opinions on mathematics.
    ... Michael Press wrote: ... 'mathematical objects' and expecting to be understood. ... minds, and changing our minds. ... Unicorns are a construction of our minds. ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: Opinions on mathematics.
    ... Michael Press wrote: ... 'mathematical objects' and expecting to be understood. ... minds, and changing our minds. ... Unicorns are a construction of our minds. ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: Opinions on mathematics.
    ... Michael Press wrote: ... 'mathematical objects' and expecting to be understood. ... minds, and changing our minds. ... Unicorns are a construction of our minds. ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: Opinions on mathematics.
    ... Michael Press wrote: ... 'mathematical objects' and expecting to be understood. ... minds, and changing our minds. ... Unicorns are a construction of our minds. ...
    (sci.math)
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