I'm afraid to say it but math is or seems PERFECT. Yet we all know there can be no such thing as perfection. There's always a negative that comes with every positive.
My question then is:
Is mathematics flawless? — TheMadFool
Most mathematical truths cannot be proved. The overwhelming majority of mathematical relations cannot be known. The overwhelming majority of numbers can't be represented. Only a tiny fraction of mathematical functions can be computed. — tom
My question is is math deserving of this respect and trust? Could it not be flawed? What does a mathemstical analysis of a given subject deprive us of? Are there some areas of study where math is harmful instead of beneficial? — TheMadFool
My question is is math deserving of this respect and trust? Could it not be flawed? What does a mathemstical analysis of a given subject deprive us of? — TheMadFool
A chef's knife is good for cutting food, but not for cutting brick or steel, nor for heating or cooling water, nor for an infinite range of other purposes. Shall we call the knife "imperfect" or "an imperfect knife" on these grounds? — Cabbage Farmer
Suppose that an individual is using mathematics according to some falsely determined principles of application, or in a subject where mathematics in not applicable. That person might be convinced, simply because the mathematics was applied, and the mathematics produced conclusions, that these conclusions were truths. But if these aren't real truths, then the use of mathematics here is harmful. It is not "mathematics" itself which is harmful, but it is the person's attitude toward mathematics which is harmful. Likewise, if one uses deductive logic without adequately judging the propositions accepted as premises, and believes in the truth of the conclusions produced by the logic, we have the same problem. It is not the logic itself which is the problem, it is the way that it is used.Are there some areas of study where math is harmful instead of beneficial? — TheMadFool
mplicit in this is the premise that math is the tool of preference. — TheMadFool
Can you suggest a better 'tool'? — Wayfarer
Math is now a universally applicable tool, finding its way into almost every subject worth studying. — TheMadFool
Implicit in this is the premise that math is the tool of preference. — TheMadFool
In other words it is perfect — TheMadFool
and we believe as true the results of mathematical calculations/manipulations; — TheMadFool
math, invariably, improves or underscores the credentials of any study worth its money. — TheMadFool
My question is is math deserving of this respect and trust? — TheMadFool
Could it not be flawed? — TheMadFool
What does a mathemstical analysis of a given subject deprive us of? — TheMadFool
Are there some areas of study where math is harmful instead of beneficial? — TheMadFool
I think the question which TheMadFool is asking now, is what type of things is mathematics not good for. — Metaphysician Undercover
We could start with morality. I think that most people would agree that mathematics is not very good for solving moral issues. — Metaphysician Undercover
If we move from morality into social studies, we will find some areas where mathematics becomes useful, through the use of statistics, probabilities, and such things. I think that we might find a grey area here, between social sciences and moral philosophy, where some might argue mathematics is useful and others might argue that mathematics is not useful. If one is convinced that the mathematics is useful, when it is not, then the use of mathematics would be harmful. — Metaphysician Undercover
My question is is math deserving of this respect and trust? Could it not be flawed? What does a mathemstical analysis of a given subject deprive us of? Are there some areas of study where math is harmful instead of beneficial? — TheMadFool
I expect the majority of utilitarians might object to that claim. — Cabbage Farmer
I'll say, if one finds mathematics useful in his own moral thinking, let him use it; and likewise with every other field of endeavor. — Cabbage Farmer
To say that moral thinking or moral phenomena can be "quantified" in this way, and that there may be some use for such quantitative approaches, is not to suggest that such practices could displace ordinary moral reasoning and intuitions, or should be required for responsible moral discourse. — Cabbage Farmer
I'll say, mathematics is useful in a given context insofar as counting and measuring and analyzing quantitative relationships are useful in that context. — Cabbage Farmer
How can we compare two or more things without quantification (use of math) knowing that quantification is necessary in that arena? — TheMadFool
We make these kinds of qualitative comparisons all the time, and mathematics plays no role in them whatsoever. — aletheist
But as I said before, better is not quantifiable — Metaphysician Undercover
In your example of the height comparison of boy and girl math helps us to answer who is and by how much taller between the two. — TheMadFool
Doesn't the exactitude of math help us fine-tune our knowledge of our universe? — TheMadFool
I think the words of comparison we use (better, more beautiful, most ugly, etc) betray an innate desire to quantify things. — TheMadFool
But that is a different question than the merely qualitative comparison of which one is taller than the other, which requires no measurement - and therefore no math - as long as they are standing together. — aletheist
The exactitude of math is only possible because it deals with purely hypothetical or ideal states of things. Exact analyses of mathematical models can only serve as approximate analyses of actual situations. — aletheist
How does this indicate to you that I have an innate desire to quantify things? I have no desire to quantify these things, I simply prefer watching hockey over football. — Metaphysician Undercover
I believe words of comparison like ''more'', ''most'', ''least'', ''greater'', ''braver'', etc. are indications of the need to quantify all aspects of experience. — TheMadFool
But why? You have not provided evidence for this. — Chany
The words I mentioned are the evidence. They make sense only in a quantified universe. — TheMadFool
Qualitative comparisons are subjective. Quantitative comaprisons are objective. — TheMadFool
Mathematical models are an approximation yes but they work - they grasp at the key players in any situation, sweeping aside the irrelevant, the redundant, the red herrings, etc. — TheMadFool
"I like hockey more than football". — Chany
My son is objectively taller than my daughter. Yellow is objectively lighter in color than indigo — aletheist
I think no other human invention has that much depth and breadth of application as mathematics. — TheMadFool
That's quantification if ever I saw one. — TheMadFool
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