|
|
#21
10-27-2006, 03:30 AM
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Do numbers exist?
Read some Frege. Then Russell. Then Hilbert. Then Godel.
Regrettably, none of them could come up with convincing answers to this problem (worse yet, Frege backed himself into a corner). Nor have philosophers since Plato come up with a convincing solution to the problem of universals/ideas/concepts. As it turns out, idealism (the notion that concepts are entirely mental constructs) seems like the most convincing scheme in our current scientific (ie materialist) paradigm, but it unfortunately runs into a few problems. For instance, are relations real (ie physical) things? Probably not. But would Mt. Everest cease to have the property "being taller than" a one foot anthill if there were no cognitive beings? Uh oh... Regardless of its problems, I'd say idealism is still the best we can do with numbers and other conceptual constructs. It still remains a major problem in Metaphysics, the Philosophy of Language, and Logic and Mathematics. 
|
|
#22
10-27-2006, 03:32 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Do numbers exist?
[ QUOTE ]
Are you aware that you have asked the only question that mathmeticians all debate? [/ QUOTE ] I know a lot of professional mathematicians and there's nothing they are less interested in debating though much they are equally uninterested in debating. Whether the next conference should be in Brazil or Nice seems to fascinate them. chez
|
|
#23
10-27-2006, 04:01 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Do numbers exist?
Amazing. This is the second time someone decided to nitpick my use of the word "debate" instead of "disagreement".
|
|
#24
10-27-2006, 04:06 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Do numbers exist?
[ QUOTE ]
Amazing. This is the second time someone decided to nitpick my use of the word "debate" instead of "disagreement". [/ QUOTE ] they don't disagree either, they never even think about it and hold no views to disagree about. You mean if they did hold views they would disagree? chez
|
|
#25
10-27-2006, 04:31 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Do numbers exist?
Yes they do. Ask them. Almost all mathmeticians count theselves as Platonists or Formalists or occasionaly Constuctionists. But they don't talk about it much.
|
|
#26
10-27-2006, 04:32 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Our imaginary friends
[ QUOTE ]
They are purely constructs of language, denoting relationships between physical things. They will go away when we'll go away. Mickey Brausch [/ QUOTE ] Mickey, are you saying that relationships between physical things will go away when we go away or that constructs of language will go away or both? Just confused. Are numbers and relationships between physical things the same thing?
|
|
#27
10-27-2006, 04:39 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Do numbers exist?
[ QUOTE ]
Yes they do. Ask them. Almost all mathmeticians count theselves as Platonists or Formalists or occasionaly Constuctionists. But they don't talk about it much. [/ QUOTE ] They really don't. The question is not a mathematical one and most have no interested in hi falootin stuff. More importantly, the answer is Brazil - Brazil. chez
|
|
#28
10-27-2006, 05:14 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Do numbers exist?
"They really don't. The question is not a mathematical one and most have no interested in hi falootin stuff."
They used to. But I hope you are right.
|
|
#29
10-27-2006, 05:20 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Do numbers exist?
[ QUOTE ]
"They really don't. The question is not a mathematical one and most have no interested in hi falootin stuff." They used to. But I hope you are right. [/ QUOTE ] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
|
|
#30
10-27-2006, 06:09 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Do numbers exist?
YEAH BABAAAAAHHHH
|
 |
|
|
Linear Mode
