I say it is a philosophy, because all numbers are approximations.
2006-09-21 10:56:27 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
I read, in my Math book, that mathematics is a philosophy.
Numbers, do not exist in real life, they are an invention of man's mind, just like a square does not exist, or a triangle, or a circle. They are concepts. They are very useful. But math, is a philosophy and far more exact than science, which is unusual for a philosophy.
2006-09-22 06:53:56 · update #1
Looking at its foundations you will see mathematics is applied logic. It's applied rigorously, in the sense that every proof has to be a succession of logical implications and no guess is a true statement until you prove it that way. Is logic a philosophy? If so, then different people could have different "philosophies", hence different "mathematics". Indeed, some people don't understand math or can't apply it because their "philosophy" is wrong, i.e. fallacious, since logic is not an opinion, but the very idea of logic and its truth is only clear to logical people, therefore the debate will continue. Instead, I would say both mathematics and philosophy are developments of logic, only in different directions. The difference is that some mistakes might intrude even in philosophical constructions, since these rest on various implicit assumptions, which escape rigor.
2006-09-22 06:15:14 · answer #1 · answered by jarynth2 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would say math is both a science and a language. The scientific aspect is that it is a method of reaching a conclution. However, unlike science, there is ultimate "truth" to a mathmatical statement. Whereas the theory of relativity can be disproven, how do you disprove 1+1=2? Each value is a sure thing (not variables, I mean numbers). And when read properly, math is actually a phrase or sentance telling you something. therefore, it is a language, or a least has many of the properties of a language. It even has slang (= did not always exist, at one point in time, people always wrote "is equal to").
2006-09-21 11:12:30 · answer #2 · answered by pito16places 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I agree, but not with your statement. All numbers are definitions - they have perfect exactness, because we have defined them that way.
In its purest form, its a language used to describe things in some real or theoretical world. By the rules we have defined, we can predict, calculate, and analyze the behavior of the objects that we have defined.
For example, using mathematics, we can use the rules of geometry, trigonometry, algebra and calculus (our definitions) to explain the path and speed of a rocket lifting off and heading to space. Those definitions of the weight of the rocket, the lift and amount of the fuel, the angle of the launch, as well as the position of the rocket, are also our human definitions.
But try answering this question without math: "What path does the rocket fly into space?"
2006-09-21 12:49:10 · answer #3 · answered by Polymath 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Approximations? so with the millions and millions of variables involved, you think we just approximately landed on the moon?
It's a science. However, one has to be able think in the same mode as a philosopher in the higher arenas of mathematics.
2006-09-21 11:05:20 · answer #4 · answered by Manny 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's definately not a philosophy if you think of it like that because number are infinite. I would say it's more of a science, but there are probably different arguments against that idea.
2006-09-21 11:11:11 · answer #5 · answered by Allison B 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why must it be one or the other ? It is neither really - science is based on observation of natural phenomena - and philsophy is about evaluating the reasonableness of human arguments - pure mathematics involves neither observation nor the inherent subjectivities of argument - it is something unique to itself
2006-09-21 11:36:21 · answer #6 · answered by Strangerbarry 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There ARE exact numbers, but the question (very philosophical) goes deeper than that. There frontier is one of proofs that are SO complex that they are proven with computer assistance. Said computers use software which CAN have hidden bugs so is ANY proof likely to be 100% reliable forever in the future?
2006-09-21 11:21:03 · answer #7 · answered by rhino9joe 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
numbers are finite, not approximates.
Mathematics is more a science than a philosophy because once you arrive at a mathematical answer, there is not disputation, whereas in philosophy there is no finite or final answer.
2006-09-21 10:58:53 · answer #8 · answered by Clarkie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Mostly science, but advanced math is sometimes an art form.
2006-09-21 11:01:11 · answer #9 · answered by Cirric 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Math is most definitely a science, because the rules always apply.
2006-09-21 11:04:27 · answer #10 · answered by BigTip$ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋