Invention or discovery?

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   janesixposted 13 years ago

   Is mathematics an invention of the human mind, or are mathematical laws already in existance, waiting to be discovered by humans? Even modern mathematicians cant agree on this.

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      paradigmsearchposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I submit that pi existed before man.

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         janesixposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Cherry or apple?

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            paradigmsearchposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            You have just reminded me that I terribly miss Lemon Meringue Pie.

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         Eric Newlandposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         How about compound interest?

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            paradigmsearchposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Come to think of it, breeding bacteria would be an excellent demonstration of that.

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               Eric Newlandposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Are you talking about bankers or those little microscopic organisms?

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                  paradigmsearchposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  There's a difference?

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                     Eric Newlandposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     Ok, how about imaginary numbers?

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                        paradigmsearchposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        Imaginary numbers are used to describe electromagnetism, fluid dynamics, quantum mechanics, etc. All of which existed before man.

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      mischeviousmeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Mathematics are a relationship of quantified values, a way of measuring the quantity, velocity, angle and so on, of things and stuff...

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         janesixposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Yes. So is that an invention or a discovery?

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            mischeviousmeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            An invention of perception and because it can be weighed against reality, I'd have to say it's a very useful invention.

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      kessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      All things are already existing....it is called existance,
      
      so your question is actually asking 'how do you describe the process where by something is brought Ito your awareness?'
      
      
      What term would you use?
      Discovery or rediscovery?
      Invention or reinvention?
      Creation or recreation?
      Enlightenment or re enlightenment?
      Realization?
      
      Then you should see the problem only exist because you try to encompass the understanding with a word.
      
      Words by their nature have contrary meaning.

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         janesixposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         If there is a mathematical formula or concept, then does it HAVE to exist in reality? Take infinity for instance.

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            mischeviousmeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            The human brain is a storage device. It has it's own filing system and it transmits to the self, a preconditioned, impulsive response. It's the rationality of mathematics, that makes all this stuff real.

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            kessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            The reality of a person is constructed in his own mind...so therefore if it is a concept in your mind it exist in your reality.
            
            A mathematical expression for existence is ++ existence is infinite.

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   paradigmsearchposted 13 years ago

   And we need to get janesix closer to 100 followers!

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   dudumoduposted 13 years ago

   My candid opinion is that man has never and is not capable of inventing anything. Everything we claim to have invented was previously created by God. To posit otherwise is to praise the man who noticed that the darkest hour is nearest morning above He who arranged that it be so.

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      A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      So, men are just mindless puppets on a string?

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   dudumoduposted 12 years ago

   Far from it. Man occupies a much higher position than that in the estimation of God. Fact is, God has invited him to be a partaker in the eternal process of "creation". This is the reason why the Bible says " ye are little gods".However,this is all happening within a given frame, God's unltimate mastership. Now, by what we know of dialectics, man arrives at his great inventions by struggling with nature. This is the input he has to give in order to arrive at that great moment when heaven reckons that he has done enough either as individual or as a race and then rewards him with a revelation or any other form of previously unknown height of achievement like a world record..It is also the reason why the most pertinent definition of Good Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.It is a bit mystical,but as we say in Yorubaland " If you will only put your eyes in the proper angle, you will surely see your nose"

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