Alex,

I have frequently challenged your notion that math "rules" the universe, but lately you've dodged me (an avoidance strangely concurrent with my "Dimensions vs. Coordinates" -- http://www.astronomy.net/forums/god/messages/11157.shtml ).

However, even if you *do* respond, history shows that you'll first require that I reveal my "physics background." Hence, I'll tell you up front that I have virtually no formal physics training.

Instead of justifying a non-response with a sort of reverse *argumentum ad vericundiam* logical fallacy ("you don't know physics, so I cannot explain it to you" nonsense), I'd like you to address the following view --

"As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality." - Albert Einstein.

If you really know what you're talking about, you'll be able to discuss these things within the boundaries of everyday language (like Dick does).

Your thoughts...?

-LH

• We do not know one way or the other - yanniru - October 22, 2001 - 13:39 UTC
• poor Einstein - thom_cl - October 22, 2001 - 16:55 UTC
  • Poor ignorance - luis_hamburgh - October 22, 2001 - 22:17 UTC
    • Luis, you mix "predictable" and "mathematical". - alexander - October 23, 2001 - 19:05 UTC
      • But waves are invisible - yanniru - October 24, 2001 - 15:09 UTC
        • Waves are visible (light) hearable (sound), tangible, etc. - alexander - October 24, 2001 - 17:17 UTC
          • I disagree - yanniru - October 25, 2001 - 15:04 UTC
            • Alex is quite correct! - doctordick - October 25, 2001 - 17:23 UTC
              • Maxwell's equations - yanniru - October 26, 2001 - 15:07 UTC
                • So, what is the EXACT POSITION of infinite e/m wave? (nt) - alexander - October 26, 2001 - 17:24 UTC
                  • The position of the entire wavetrain - yanniru - October 26, 2001 - 20:53 UTC
                    • Not a phase but a position. - alexander - November 5, 2001 - 11:07 UTC
                      • Beat's me since photon does not exist - yanniru - November 5, 2001 - 15:23 UTC
        • Maybe it's semantic - luis_hamburgh - October 24, 2001 - 22:58 UTC
          • Math is not a language - it tells universe how to behave. - alexander - October 26, 2001 - 03:19 UTC
      • I'm confused (it's perpetual) - luis_hamburgh - October 24, 2001 - 22:54 UTC
  • Poor but happy Einstein - luis_hamburgh - October 22, 2001 - 22:39 UTC
    • Well, happy me. - pmartin - October 22, 2001 - 22:48 UTC
    • Einstein and metaphysics - thom_cl - October 23, 2001 - 12:55 UTC
  • descriptions vs. prescriptions - harvey1 - October 25, 2001 - 14:37 UTC
    • fact vs. conjecture - thom_cl - October 25, 2001 - 17:49 UTC
      • Nature without numbers - harvey1 - October 25, 2001 - 18:38 UTC
        • Consciousness COULD be expressed mathematically... - luis_hamburgh - October 25, 2001 - 23:25 UTC
          • Why? - harvey1 - October 26, 2001 - 01:05 UTC
            • Here we go again. Math is MORE than language. - alexander - October 26, 2001 - 17:02 UTC
              • Vitalism? - harvey1 - October 26, 2001 - 19:24 UTC
                • Harv, as sharp as you are... - luis_hamburgh - October 27, 2001 - 15:18 UTC
                  • But... - harvey1 - October 27, 2001 - 22:09 UTC
                    • My point exactly! - luis_hamburgh - October 28, 2001 - 08:16 UTC
                      • It matters because... - harvey1 - October 29, 2001 - 04:24 UTC
              • I agree; I disagree - luis_hamburgh - October 27, 2001 - 15:07 UTC
• Luis, one equation is better than thousand words. - alexander - October 23, 2001 - 18:51 UTC
  • Forget Euclid -- Try some Einstein! - luis_hamburgh - October 25, 2001 - 23:31 UTC
    • So, how can you "alter" what does not exist ("motion via time")? - alexander - October 26, 2001 - 03:18 UTC
      • Alex, motion is a continuous spatial displacement.... you agree? - smartguy - October 26, 2001 - 22:34 UTC
        • You should take a look at.. - bruce - October 27, 2001 - 21:47 UTC
          • Bruce... - smartguy - October 29, 2001 - 03:07 UTC
            • You can get acroread free from.. - bruce - October 29, 2001 - 03:40 UTC
      • I know it's difficult, but you're almost there. - luis_hamburgh - October 26, 2001 - 23:40 UTC