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To: Physicist
These truths are universal, and they do constrain the possible behavior of reality . . . . Mathematical truth is more fundamental than reality.

Is mathematical truth discovered, or is it constructed?

Apparently, you would agree with those who say that mathematics exists to be discovered: in fact, mathematical truth is more fundamental than reality!

If pressed, I would probably say that physical reality is more fundamental, and that mathematics is something that we humans construct. Sometimes, if we are careful, our math adequately approximates reality.

67 posted on 12/06/2001 12:36:43 PM PST by Logophile
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To: Logophile
Is mathematical truth discovered, or is it constructed?

Apparently, you would agree with those who say that mathematics exists to be discovered: in fact, mathematical truth is more fundamental than reality!

Look carefully at your language and mine: you are using "mathematics" to mean two separate things. I say mathematical truth is discovered, and mathematical formalism is constructed.

Mathematical truth is more fundamental, because our reality is only one of an infinite number of potential realities, but there is only one set of mathematical truth, and it is common to them all.

70 posted on 12/06/2001 1:26:44 PM PST by Physicist
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