Mathematics and the Universe

[Purple Rabbit]

Physics only uses a small percentage of the total mathematics that is available to us. We can use the available mathematics to construct physical worlds which are alien to ours. Furthermore there are indications that mathematics arises from our response to the physical world and thus functions as a natural languages.

For example humans appear to have an innate ability, called subitizing, to count, add, and subtract. It was Kant who observed that our thinking is wired for certain patterns and not for others. Math is based on principles (like symmetry, identity, causality, spatial and temporal dependencies) that are part of our macrolevel experiences. It seems that man is capable of math because the mind of man was organized to recognize patterns, make associations and abstract certain aspect of it. But instead of seeing math as the ultimate language with which to 'read' nature, and in which nature is written, I think it is more like a key for humans to unlock some of the information that is contained in nature. How good this key is to unravel all, at the moment is not quite clear.