Harv,

Mathematics is logic applied to quantities. Logic is the process of creating tautologies. All tautologies are true. We can use mathematics to discover truths about quantities. The truths of mathematics apply to physics, economics, accounting, sports, and everything under the sun that can be counted. It's as simple as that.

Mathematics is no more than a way of saying the same thing in different ways. For instance, 4 = 4, 4 = 2 + 2, 4 = 8 / 2, 4 = sqrt(16), 4 = ln(54.6), 4 = cos(x) + sin(y), ... there are infinite ways of saying four, and if they are mathematically correct they are absolutely true and no physicist, economist, accountant, referee, nobody at all, can prove them wrong.

If you say you can't use math to discover truths about reality, you must be able to conceive of a situation where reality confounds a mathematical prediction. I'm curious as to what you think.

Cheers,

Aurino

• I'm buying it - quiet - April 24, 2003 - 17:22 UTC
• As far as we know, mathematics has nothing to do with reality - harvey1 - April 24, 2003 - 17:36 UTC
  • Sure, but... - aurino_s - April 24, 2003 - 17:59 UTC
    • Translation - harvey1 - April 24, 2003 - 18:16 UTC
      • Catch Me If You Can - aurino_s - April 24, 2003 - 19:23 UTC
        • What's your point? - harvey1 - April 24, 2003 - 19:55 UTC
          • ?? - harvey1 - April 25, 2003 - 14:20 UTC
            • Worry not - aurino_s - April 25, 2003 - 14:52 UTC
              • Truth is important - harvey1 - April 25, 2003 - 15:14 UTC
                • Die Wahrheit/la verita/la verdad/... - aurino_s - April 25, 2003 - 15:32 UTC
                  • Tough day? - harvey1 - April 25, 2003 - 17:00 UTC
                    • Logical positivism was an inspiration to my attending college - kantolfir2 - April 25, 2003 - 17:22 UTC
                    • All days are tough - aurino_s - April 25, 2003 - 18:28 UTC
                      • Yes, they are - harvey1 - April 25, 2003 - 18:50 UTC
                        • Some days are better than others - aurino_s - April 25, 2003 - 19:33 UTC
                          • We are very close in our views - harvey1 - April 25, 2003 - 19:50 UTC
                      • You're misrepresenting Logical Positivism - something - April 25, 2003 - 21:10 UTC