I argue, as others have done before me, that mathematical concepts and ideas exist objectively, outside of the physical world and outside of the world of consciousness. We mathematicians discover them and are able to connect to this hidden reality through our consciousness. If Leo Tolstoy had not lived we would never have known Anna Karenina. There is no reason to believe that another author would have written that same novel. However, if Pythagoras had not lived, someone else would have discovered exactly the same Pythagoras theorem. Moreover, that theorem means the same to us today as it meant to Pythagoras 2,500 years ago.
- Edward Frenkel
Wow, that’s an interesting quote! Thanks for sharing that! I am a quote junkie and that one is going into the pool, lol!
Yes indeed - what Pythagoras discovered was very useful information. Mathematics is a language with which we can communicate order and meaning about a seemingly disordered universe.
This information existed, as you rightly point out, before discovery. Information requires a mind as a source - according to Information Theory. That creative mind we call God. So again, science proves the existence of God, because science assumes the truth and usefulness (reliability) of mathematics, without which, science would be impossible.
We know science is possible, therefor we know that the assumptions regarding the information communicated through mathematics is true. Acknowledging the truth of information implies the existence of that information, which requires the creative mind which is the source of the information - ergo, science proves the existence of God.