Hi,
That's exactly my point: "1+1=2" is "absolutely" true ONLY in the special
case of a specific (and agreed upon) mathematical system whereby , in fact,
1+1=2. Within the maths we are talking about here, (as I understand it), 1+1
never equals 1.999999, or 2.1, or any other approximation. it is not
tantamount to stating some specified level of probability, unlike EVERY
other statement we can make about the 'real world. And this is the
fundamental difference between mathematics, - a marvellous conceptual
descriptive tool (only dimly understood by myself, a non-mathematician,) and
"reality", which, as I understand it, is not INTRINSICALLY mathematical in
nature. That is, whilst maths may indeed describe very well what, for
instance, a cricketer may do in intercepting the trajectory of a cricket
ball, I do not know of any proposition that the maths describing
trajectories, forces, masses,acceleration etc., is actually what the
cricketer is directly (albeit 'unconciously' - whatever might be menat by
that) utilising, OR that the universe, in the instance of this hypothetical
cricket ball at least, is actually in some way 'powered' by, or
'underwritten' by, or insome other way can be said to be 'obeying', such
mathematical 'laws'.
In other words, aside from the arguments as to whether maths is 'discovered'
or 'invented' (which arguments I'm not really familiar with, though I would
like to look into them), as I understand it, maths only work in the
presence of the possibility of 'absolute-ness', whilst 'reality' (again this
is a personal understanding) is 'NEVER' of the nature of 'absolute'.
It all hinges on the difference between 99.9999999999 (recurring)%
probability, and 100% probability. It seems so close, yet they are an
infinity apart.
cor! - must go off and have some red wine!
cheers
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ghitus" <ghitus@libero.it>
To: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
Sent: 07 October 2000 16:43
Subject: Re: MD 1+1=2
> 1+1=2
>
>
> > Is this true ? is this absolute ?
>
>
> Are there occasions in which this is not true?
>
> Sometimes the job of two persons working in team is better than the job
made
> by separate persons... So 1+1=2 is true only once you have determined a
> batch of initial coordinates in which you put the equation.
>
> It's true in arithmetic, that is a system of coordinates. It's not true in
> a social contest. So it's not absolute.
>
> You can say I'm a Sophist... yes, maybe. But you must prove that math, and
> numbers, and formal logic are more real or more important than the
> association of working people.
>
>
>
> ghitus
>
>
>
>
>
> ------- End of forwarded message -------
>
>
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