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Old 12-22-2008   #99 (permalink)
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Valliko
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Re: Math: Did we discover or create it?

I see this topic is dead since long ago. Well, i'll answer it anyway.

Did we, or did we not creat mathematics? Now, the answer is depending on what we mean with mathematics. For me, math is abstract and logical connections / links. It is quantities, patterns and combinations. It is probably more than so but i'll keep it short.

Now, i am certain, very very certain that humans is nothing but discovering the contents of math. Whilst we created the language in wich we express theese connections or quantites (2 Red Dogs and so on) we are still only expressing ourself. We do not modify or determine the quantity. 2 Red dogs will always be 2 red dogs. Even a cat would know that 2 dogs is more than 1 (prolly wont think of it in numbers, but more instinctive). Do you understand me? My english language sure isn't the best :P

Another example would be a lenght, strecht, line, whatever.
The distance between point A and point B is constant. We could apply our metrics system on the "subject". We could call it 20 meters or 2000 Centimeters.. Whatever we call it, the distance would be the same. We did not determine the distance and we're not in state to modify it either.

Yet another example is the area of a circle. The circle with a radius of 1 has the area of pi, now this is a realtionship between two constants (1 and PI) wich we cant ever, ever change.

This is it, i hope you understand me. Sorry for bumping a very old thread, but this was needed bring me rest..
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