Science Forums 2

[CraigD]

Originally Posted by Racoon

Just like we didn't create all the atoms and photons either.
They're just there.
Math has been there too, until we uncovered all these formulas.

We discovered the Atom like we discovered Math.
In humble opinion,

The Periodic Table of Elements was there before we had a Periodic Table...

In another sense, mathematical and chemical artifacts such as the Pythagorean equation and the Periodic Table mat be defined as purely physical objects, arrangements of atoms of ink and paper in books, of magnetized particles on disk drives, and neurons and chemicals in human brains. That these mathematical and chemical objects describe the very energy and matter of which they are made makes them, though strangely self-referential, none the less physical.

Although it’s arguably likely that similar objects have been created by intelligent creatures elsewhere in the universe, it’s reasonable to assume that at some time in the past, no arrangement of matter/energy existed that corresponded to the Pythagorean equation or any version of the Periodic Table, so, at some specific regions in space-time, they existed for the first time. It’s also reasonable that, at some point in the distant future, no such objects will exist, although the physical phenomena they describe will continue to occur.

Alternately, we may define Math as the phenomena of creating these physical objects – Math notes and publications, and brain configurations embodying mathematical knowledge and understanding.

Regardless of which of these 2 definitions is used, Math is a created artifact, distinct from any physical phenomena it may be used to describe.