What do you think about these books on the meaninglessness of mathematics and science?

Question

I found these books on a yahoo answers. The argue that if logic is an epistemic condition of truth then logic demonstrates that mathematics and scvience are self-contradictory or meaningless. In other words in terms of the logic these discipline use as the criteria of truth there own criteria collaspes them into meaninglessness. Some wil say that so what maths and science work. Yes but the author argues this just makes how they work more of a mystery since if logic is a tool for truth this very tool demonstrates they canont be "true" as they are self contradictorory WHAT DO YOU THINK.. The author uses these case studies to argue all human thinking and products of thought entail meaninglessness if logic is an epistemic condition of truth

http://gamahucherpress.yellowgum.com/gamahucher_press_catalogue.htm

Answer 1

Postmodern drivel.

Seriously - people like Thomas Kuhn who come up with such ideas end up having to admit that science isnt making any progress to justify the rest of their ridiculous conclusions - they believe that new revolutions in science like relativity, quantum mechanics and akin to fashion and that no actual progress is made, its just a different paradigm.

What utter nonsense - how can any thinking person consider such thoughts? Ancient people couldnt imagine travelling to other countries in huge metal 'birds' but many people do it several times a year. Fashion didnt give us air travel - the change was in the objective amount of our knowledge - we understand more now and thus we can fly.

In a way asking if science is meaningless is pretty ironic since you're asking it on a computer that was only built because physicists worked out the properties of semi-conductors based on the new findings of quantum theory.

Answer 2

There's always a catch...

These books were undoubtedly written, edited, proofread, page set, printed, and bound by modern machines. So as much as they would like to make nonsense arguments about the meaningless of science and mathematics, they are in fact taking advantage of the benefits provided by technological pursuits.

It's about on the same level as complaining on a message board that computers are useless.... Obviously they're not entirely useless to that person because they're using the computer to make their opinion known.... to other people using computers.

Basically, they're hypocrites, and as much as they'd like to condemn science and math, they are ultimately dependent upon it. They will not give up their lifestyle and live off the land, without tools, running water, electricity, etc.

Answer 3

Science is knowledge and search for knowledge using facts and truths. Isnt that what they are trying to do in these books? By their logic their own books become meaningless.

Answer 4

Fortunately science isn't about meaning and truth. Its about theories and observations. Theories are just that. Sometimes a theory is correct and sometimes it isn't. More often it is correct but only within limits so theories aren't about absolute truth, just the best way to understand what we see and we never rule out the possibility of a better theory.
The logic of Mathematics is just a tool to help us examine our theories.

Answer 5

merely ask your self what residing with out arithmetic or technological understanding might propose... arhg... return to cave, bash on prey with stones, no drugs, no gadget (to create a gadget you are able to desire to learn by potential of experiencing and gaining know-how of recent the thank you to make issues, this is technological understanding). Sniff the air to make useful the lion will no longer eat you. No home equipment, television, electrical energy, outfits, or rest room paper. Yep, i think of arithmetic and technological understanding are sensible. and since the author hasn't presented to stay with out the consequences of arithmetic and technological understanding i might say he's not extreme.

Answer 6

The books themselves are meaningless.