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Posted by Claude Kordo on February 11, 1998 at 15:54:41:
In Reply to: Status of math posted by James on February 01, 1998 at 11:58:12:
: Does anyone have any ideas on whether mathematics is something discovered or invented? Plato, obviously, went for the former option, Wittgenstein for the latter. What do you think? (Can the question even be answered in this form? And what would the status of the answer be? Would it have anything to do with math - or only to do with the English language?)
: I'm not a mathematician but I'm interested,
: James.
James:
I think the stronger argument would begin from the idea of "invention," and would then proceed from these axiomatic-inventions, through a series of extensions to discoveries that would link a Human-frame-of-reference to the idea of "measurement." Measurement is arguably the single most important idea in the formation of all human concepts, and allows minds imbued with reason to reach a level called Abstraction.
Again, I must emphasize the idea of "invention." This was done from a human perspective, .and was done in order to have a frame of reference for Human conceptualization.
If a Xenomorph, or alien consciousness, could be identified or defined, its Xeno-psychological matrix would not necessarily "invent" mathematics as we did - the frame of reference would be far different.
I think the question you are really asking is whether mathematics exists "independent of consciousness." I don't think so - someone or something must point to "it" and say, in whatever terms, "this relationship is true."
Best regards,
Claude Kordo
(irekorzz@aol.com)
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