While mathematics seems to require sentient beings, does the mathematical relation "2+2=4" continue to be true if no one was around to perform the computation?

The key operative word, here, is 'true'. The term true means a whole plethora of things, but in the limited cases of math, it is simply an undefined term that is used under certain conditions.

Now, our mathematics might express something 'true' about reality, but this is a metaphysical position which none can gauge with any scientific precision. Philosophically speaking, there's many arguments pro and con. I favor the position that mathematics says something about reality (i.e., I am a realist, or platonist).

• Not correct - mikelev - July 17, 2003 - 13:27 UTC
  • Let's discuss this - harvey1 - July 17, 2003 - 14:15 UTC
    • Sure - mikelev - July 17, 2003 - 14:59 UTC
      • Getting to the truth - harvey1 - July 17, 2003 - 15:32 UTC
        • math = truth - mikelev - July 17, 2003 - 15:58 UTC
          • more on T - harvey1 - July 17, 2003 - 18:37 UTC
            • or, in other words... - sillyuniverse - July 17, 2003 - 19:02 UTC
            • Definitions and axioms... - smartguy - July 17, 2003 - 19:05 UTC
            • Too complicated - mikelev - July 17, 2003 - 19:36 UTC
              • Anonymous "Mike" writes... - smartguy - July 17, 2003 - 19:44 UTC
                • ??? - mikelev - July 17, 2003 - 19:56 UTC
                  • You weren't supposed to... - smartguy - July 18, 2003 - 01:36 UTC
                    • Sorry, Mark; your insult only labels yourself as a quack! - carefuluniverse - July 18, 2003 - 02:53 UTC
                      • I'm a savage to be taught by "white man"? - smartguy - July 18, 2003 - 04:16 UTC
                        • Wow that post was confusing.... - carefuluniverse - July 18, 2003 - 04:49 UTC
                    • Who are the Brain Police? - sillyuniverse - July 18, 2003 - 03:14 UTC
                      • Mike I like you... - smartguy - July 18, 2003 - 04:56 UTC
                        • I think consensus opinion should not be cited - carefuluniverse - July 18, 2003 - 05:07 UTC
                          • I'm a contributory component of said consensus... - smartguy - July 18, 2003 - 05:16 UTC
                            • arf arf ....arf arf ....arf arf arf.....hee haw..hee haw.... - kantolfir2 - July 18, 2003 - 06:29 UTC
              • Simple sentence - harvey1 - July 17, 2003 - 20:18 UTC
                • Your sentence is un-moo - mikelev - July 18, 2003 - 13:22 UTC
                  • Correction...(?) - smartguy - July 18, 2003 - 19:11 UTC
                    • I concur - harvey1 - July 18, 2003 - 21:16 UTC
                  • Un-moo? - harvey1 - July 18, 2003 - 21:00 UTC
                    • A definition of mathematical truth - harvey1 - July 19, 2003 - 14:32 UTC
                      • eternal life - dolphin - July 20, 2003 - 12:13 UTC
                        • Good grief - harvey1 - July 20, 2003 - 14:50 UTC
                          • Alan, he'll do it! He can also remove posts! - quiet - July 20, 2003 - 15:20 UTC
                          • explanation - dolphin - July 20, 2003 - 16:34 UTC
                            • Another explanation - harvey1 - July 21, 2003 - 02:42 UTC
                              • I can explain - dolphin - July 21, 2003 - 05:31 UTC
                                • Not an answer - harvey1 - July 21, 2003 - 11:41 UTC
                                  • A car at an intersection - dolphin - July 23, 2003 - 07:55 UTC
                      • math-world - dolphin - July 20, 2003 - 17:10 UTC
                        • Let's not get carried away - harvey1 - July 21, 2003 - 04:02 UTC
                          • Recognized names in the field of philosophy - quiet - July 21, 2003 - 04:43 UTC
                            • definition and meeting - dolphin - July 21, 2003 - 05:21 UTC
                          • Why no reply? - harvey1 - July 21, 2003 - 11:47 UTC
                          • reply part one - dolphin - July 22, 2003 - 08:52 UTC
                          • reply part two - dolphin - July 22, 2003 - 09:41 UTC
                          • reply part three - dolphin - July 23, 2003 - 07:04 UTC
  • Math and Universe - eventhorizen - July 17, 2003 - 16:18 UTC
    • What universe? - mikelev - July 17, 2003 - 16:26 UTC
      • universe - eventhorizen - July 17, 2003 - 16:46 UTC
        • Math is the science of nothingness - mikelev - July 17, 2003 - 17:30 UTC
          • universe and man - eventhorizen - July 17, 2003 - 18:29 UTC
          • free association - dolphin - July 20, 2003 - 12:34 UTC
      • Mike I disagree... - smartguy - July 17, 2003 - 18:16 UTC
        • It's not that simple - mikelev - July 17, 2003 - 19:14 UTC
          • comments - dolphin - July 20, 2003 - 13:47 UTC
            • Comments - mikelev - July 21, 2003 - 16:06 UTC
              • they exist - dolphin - July 23, 2003 - 07:10 UTC
                • No horse is a 'horse' - mikelev - July 23, 2003 - 14:21 UTC
                  • "meeting" as ultimate definition... - dolphin - July 23, 2003 - 21:29 UTC
                    • Sure, why not? - mikelev - July 24, 2003 - 14:30 UTC
                      • convention? - dolphin - July 25, 2003 - 06:52 UTC
                        • Language - mikelev - July 25, 2003 - 13:14 UTC
                          • Please be specific.... - dolphin - July 27, 2003 - 05:46 UTC