(December 29, 2008 at 10:22 am)CoxRox Wrote: So are you saying that mathematics is no different to a language, it is purely human made? We choose symbols to depict values etc. 'Language' needs a giver and a receiver in order for it to have a purpose or be understood. We decide what the values are and the meanings, but surely this is not the case with mathematics. Are you saying that pi for example or Einstein's famous equation isn't really out there waiting to be found, rather we have 'created' these equations? Sorry, I'm struggling to convey what I'm thinking. I hope you see where I'm leading...
CoxRox, I think I see what you mean.
Taking your examples, the value of pi would be the same whether there were humans to measure it or not.
The constant of proportionality between a rest mass and it's associated energy would be proportional to c.c (with the constant of proportionality depending on units of course) irrespective of whether there's any intelligent life to measure it or not. (I assume this is what you mean by Einstein's 'famous' eqn.)
Purple Rabbit, I understand what you mean about mathematics being a formal language. However consider another intelligent species.
Their spoken language may be wildy different to any of those on earth.
However, I think their development of mathematics would be extremely similar. OK, the symbols may vary, and perhaps even a few defintions (0 factorial, square root of -1 etc) may be slightly different. But the syntax would be identical, because they are describing the same universe.
Galileo was a man of science oppressed by the irrational and superstitious. Today, he is used by the irrational and superstitious who claim they are being oppressed by science - Mark Crislip
