15 June 2013

Is Math Real?

There is an on-going debate about the ontological status of math. 


And why not? We wonder about the ontological status of all sorts of. . .things?  (Well, that begs the question. . .)

Anyway, the Realist-Antirealist debate is not limited to math. Physicists ask about the ontological status of theoretical objects all the time.  Can you say "quarks"? 





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2 comments:

  1. While watching this video, all I could think of was, "Wow, I wish I could talk as fast as that guy!"

    Knowable math - what a concept.

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  2. If Math is real then so are the forms and thus at least the Platonic God. All of this seems like mental gymnastics to avoid ancient pre (but preparatory) Christian conclusions about the universe.

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