Can everything be answered by mathematics? But we just haven't worked out the formulae yet?

Question

Often we "jump" to conclusions so rapidly we can't understand how we know certain things, and it takes us alot longer to prove that conclusion - is this because mathematics, having no limitations of the written or verbal language, can be computed in our brains far quicker than our ability to translate into meaningful words?

Answer 1

CF Gauss used to say "I can reckon before I can speak", referring to his ability to work out problems so quickly in his head by the time he spoke he knew the answer. Mathematics and Verbal skills are controlled by two totally different parts of the brain, and it has long been conjectured that we, as a species, are mathematically inclined (See, for example, the book "Why You're a Mathematical Genius"). It also helps to note that while it may seem most of the time we think in terms of language, i.e., we "talk internally", that is because it is hard for us to quantify other types of thoughts. Generally speaking, thought not involving language happens much more rapidly. For your question about everything being answered through math, I refer you to the book "Meta Math: The Quest for Omega", a book on Information Theory which theorizes that there is only so much we as mathematical creatures are able to understand with math alone. Good question,

Steve

Answer 2

No! Not everything can be answered by mathematics. Godel proved some very interesting, deep results about the nature of arithmetic. In his first proof, he demonstrated that any formal system capable of arithmetic and of making statements about the whole numbers was essentially incomplete-there will always be some true statement that cannot be proved, no matter how many axioms you add!

Also, this brings up the issue of proof in general and the idea of the certainty of a proof. For example, the four colour theorem was "proved" by computer, but the calculations are so long and complex that no person could hope to go back through and check that the computer had not made an error. So, do we know that the four colour theorem is true with certainty? Indeed, my tutor told me yesterday that quite often in maths 99% certainty is enough, because if you aim for 100% all the time, you won't get on to do actual maths.

So maths doesn't have the answer to everything!

Answer 3

Some good points have been brought up (i.e. Godel's Incompleteness Theorem), but those in the end don't answer you original question.

I believe that everything could be answered by mathematics (not necessarily in today's world), but the question of proving that the answer is correct is a completely different problem all together. This is where all the theorems come into place in mathematics. They are answers to questions, but they obviously haven't or can't be proven without a doubt. Maybe one day they will be proved (like the thought of light speed being the fastest which was postulated by Eistein and not proven until after his death) but that was not what the question asked.

Answer 4

YES, everything is based on math, the chemical compounds that make up substances, like grass for instance, are even based on math. Everything can be accomplished through the understanding of mathematical principles we just don't understand everything yet. And yes we are able to draw conclusions and "know" things before we can even finish the thought because of this. I believe the brain is the most complicated computer ever designed, Core 2, Quad 4, etc. have nothing on our brains as processors go.

Answer 5

Nope.

In fact, there are some questions mathematics cannot answer. (See Goedel, Escher, Bach for an interesting introduction.)

Also, some questions are not mathematical in nature. (Which tastes better? Vanilla ice cream? Or grass?)

"Jumping" to conclusions is typically called "intuition". Our brains DO a lot of parallel processing of which we are not completely aware, but it would be misleading to think that the results are always right. (My suspicion is that intuition works best in non-abstract settings - interpersonal relationships, danger analysis, etc., since that's the environment that evolved the brain.)

Once you get beyond the basics, intuition will tend to lead you astray. However, you can move the level of what's "basic" to you through education. The more you know, the better your intuition.

Answer 6

Hmm.... a million) chem (powerful and quite obtainable to realize) 2) innovative writing (exciting! <3 english) 3) calc (wonderful powerful, yet i'm specific i visit be terrible at it... the present calc variety has an classic of 50 two D:, or maybe ppl who have been given 90s in extensive-unfold math are least confusing getting 80s/70s) 4) comp engineering (now no longer plenty pastime, plus it variety of feels tough. i'm taking workstation programming impressive now and that's complicated enuf because it particularly is...)

Answer 7

If you think that everything is mathematically quantifiable, how would you define Love? Creativity? Stupidity? Emotions? Intellectual arrogance? The belief that everything is analysable? You might know what it is but you will never know where it is.

Answer 8

I believe most things can.
Try studying the theories surrounding such things as the Golden number. It opens up a whole new take on things around you!

Answer 9

Mathematics will never help men to understand women.

Answer 10

I very much doubt emotions such as "love" could ever be put into an equation. It's too chaotic to put into a formula