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A comment on Doing Mathematics Differently. Parent comment

Re:Doing Mathematics Differently by zvrba on Saturday February 27, 2016 @02:51AM (#11186449)
Well, it does not. Mathematics is a symbolic system invented by humans, but that system tells you nothing about the state of the world.

Used correctly, it can be used to describe the world, but it can also be used to describe phenomena that have not been physically observed. E.g., currently accepted theories allow for existence of wormholes, but we do not know whether the actual physical laws of the universe ("absolute truth") do.

So, no, there is no "absolute truth" in mathematics. There are only valid derivations, but taking them as the "absolute truth" is like mistaking the pointing finger for the moon.

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Re:Doing Mathematics Differently by Houshalter on Saturday February 27, 2016 @01:51PM (#11187979)
Yes there are absolute truths. 2+2 will not equal 5 in any universe. The laws of physics could be radically different, but I have 2 apples, and you give me two more, I will not suddenly have 5 apples.

Math can tell you an awful lot about the state of the world. That's why it's useful.

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