You may be old enough to be my father (my mother is in her 80s ... ;-) but what you are saying here is simply incorrect.
Assigning symbolic values to things is not mathematics. It is a basic capability of the human brain also expressed in language and does not depend upon logic. Mathematics depends upon logic. Godfrey On Oct 27, 2006, at 11:35 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Of course mathematics is based on observation. It's a method of > assigning values to our environment that we perceive as logical. > The truth of mathematics is only provable, because the logic is > itself based on observation. When the first cavement decided to > count the trees in his yard, he was assigning values to things he > observed. He created a logic of his own. It's not intrinsic, > although it may seem so now. However, this kind of discussion is > pointless. it all depends on whether or not one believes that > humans are capable of observing the universe as it truly exists. I > accept the logic of science as a convenience, but I leave room for > doubt. > Paul > Who, unfortunately, is not a laddie and is probably old enough to > be your father:-) > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > From: Godfrey DiGiorgi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Whoa laddie! Mathematics is not a code, and it is not based on >> observation. Observations of the world might inspire a Mathematical >> concept which wonts for proof, but do not factor into the proof >> itself. >> >> Mathematics is the study of provable truth using logic, which >> provides a structure for science (the aggregation of predictive >> knowledge through hypothesis and observation) to work with, not the >> reverse. Mathematics also provides a structure for the development of >> codes. >> >> What I think you are mistaking here is the expression of Mathematical >> constructs. This is a language or possibly several languages, not a >> code. >> >> Godfrey >> >> PS: >> ... >> PMDL == Pentax Mathematics Discussion List >> PPDL == Pentax Pun Discussion List >> ... >> >> On Oct 27, 2006, at 5:01 AM, Paul Stenquist wrote: >> >>> ... I'm frequently amused by the scientists and secular >>> humanists who describe what they think they see using a code they >>> call >>> mathematics. Of course since that code is based on what they have >>> observed it fits this little circular universe perfectly. This of >>> course proves to the weak minded that what they observe is indeed >>> real. >>> Doubt is the precursor to real knowledge. Arrogance is self >>> defeating. >> >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> [email protected] >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net

