Re: Mathematics: art or science?

Michael Press wrote:
In article

<23698964.1188588087624.JavaMail.jakarta@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
f
orum.org>,
"T.H. Ray" <thray123@xxxxxxx> wrote:

On Aug 31, 2:56 am, "T.H. Ray" <thray...@xxxxxxx>
wrote:

That mathematics is a liberal art is not
debatable.
And yet here we are debating it! Go figure.


You may think you're debating. I am only reciting
facts.
After all, to some, even the claim of creationism
vs.
evolution is a "debate."

My first rule of debate is when there are two
well defined positions, they are both wrong.

This thread reminds me of the curious question:

Is the question as to whether some matter is a matter
of fact (or else a
matter of opinion)
a matter of fact (or else a matter of opinion)? Does
the answer depend
on the matter in question?





Opinions and positions in a debate assume that some
facts, characteristics, properties of the object are
in question--and that rhetoric will reveal a finer-
grained view of the object in order to--if not settle
the question--at least to focus it more clearly.

I am all in favor of Joseph Joubert's advice that "It
is better to debate a question without settling it,
than to settle a question without debating it."

There is no question, however, that mathematics is a
liberal art. This is not a position or an opinion of
mine. Mathematics shares all the properties and
characteristics of every other liberal art, and only
some of the properties and characteristics of physical
science. I exclude the "soft" social sciences
because the question of whether these belong to art
or science IS debatable. It may even be debatable into
which category computer science falls--and on that I
would be willing to take a position and participate in
debate.

By every objective standard, though, mathematics is a
liberal art.

Tom
.

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