Is math discovered or invented? – Jeff Dekofsky
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/is-math-discovered-or-invented-jeff-dekofsky Would mathematics exist if people didn’t? Did we create mathematical…
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/is-math-discovered-or-invented-jeff-dekofsky Would mathematics exist if people didn’t? Did we create mathematical…
Mathematics is a human made tool to analyse, understand, order and to
interpret the things we see or think off. Numbers and equations don’t
exist. It’s just in equations we use abstract variables and we use symbols
(operations) to discern the relationship between the variables.Numbers
allow us to have some way of fitting in values to find answers. If there
are 5 trees and no humans then there are still 5 trees but no humans to
come along with symbols, sounds or other forms of communication to express
them.
We need to find aliens to know if they have something like maths.
Is math discovered or invented? I’m not sure but I’m pretty annoyed that
this 5 minute YouTube video didn’t tell me.
People invented a system for notating mathematics, but we didn’t invent the
mathematical properties themselves. It’s sort of like how we invented the
word “tree,” but we didn’t invent trees, or how we invented a method for
creating and using fire, but we didn’t invent fire.
Imagine if we arbitrarily decided that pi (technically not a “natural”
number) were some other number than what it is, 2.4, for example. Later,
you’re using this number to calculate how large of a fence you would need
to completely enclose a circular yard. The result is that you would fail
to completely surround the yard, because pi is what it is, regardless of
what we say it is.
As for curved surfaces, this does not result in new laws of mathematics,
just new variables affecting the outcome of the same mathematics. Angles
differ on curved surfaces, because the curve is part of the equation.
Compare this scenario: Suppose I say two plus two equals four, then
someone says that if the equation only works if the first two were alone.
If a third item were present, before the two more were added, the result
would be five. This would hardly prove that two plus two equals five in
certain cases, because the one extra item would change the starting
values. Adding an extra item to an addition problem is not much different
from adding an extra curve to a geometry problem. You still use the same
math, just with another variable to consider.
Mathematics is simply Man’s attempt to quantify, collate, and designate
that which is, was, and always will be.
The conversation will always steer towards the philosophical or spiritual.
It is inevitable. “7” is merely a shape representing an idea. That’s why I
find it odd when atheists and theists bring up addition problems to explain
morality. As if the concept of “2+2=4” has anything to do with the fact
that sexual assault is a violation of an individual’s Absolute Rights. To
deny that fact, as some atheists do, is abhorrent, but to compare rape or
molestation to a arithmetic problem is asinine.
yes keep on ignoring other OLDER civilisations like Mesopotamia, ancient
Egypt and India which (invented) and used numbers and mathematical
equations way before ancient Greece ….
I think I invented it all as far as mathimatics and english language
improvements beginning in 1954 after my birth in 1953 except for my great
great grandfather George Roberts invention of coins and counting but I
cant remember if I did the numerals 1 to 9 and 0 or not. Nope it might have
been when I invented the Burrows mechanical adding machine in 1954 at about
6 months old or when I invented childs 2″ square building blocks at nursury
school or when I entered 1st grade or with my invention of flash cards wiht
my aunt and uncle and math books and school text books altogether were
invented by me when I did the worlds first high school PortHuron high
schoolI also did counting beads invention in class in first grade or hand
written numbers may go back into the abject poverty of my prebirth era in
1953 with my Grandfather inventing them. Following my grade school teachers
mathbook publishing gives a good outline of the progression of math through
the years 1960 to 1971 when I invented calculious geometry and algebra.
Likewise with my invention of english language improvements beginning 1954
when language was almost uncomprehendablle totally. I did the Dick and Jane
easy reader series books in first grade class in Grosse Pointe Woods but I
started the language improvements when I first started to speak at 6 months
old. I realized people werent talking correctly so I started talking my own
language with many new words created and it had cought on pretty well by
the time I entered school my grandmother and I were heavely involved in my
invention of the worlds first dictionary publication in 1959 Websters.
Would mathematics exist if people didn’t? Did we create mathematical
concepts to help us understand the world around us, or is math the native
language of the universe itself? Jeff Dekofsky traces some famous arguments
in this ancient and hotly debated question.
Math is an invented logical language. Instead of counting apples as “3x,
x=apple”, we might as well use “an apple, an apple and an apple”.
+MisterThomasPAINE2 +TheCaptainSlappy
Would mathematics exist if people didn’t? Did we create mathematical
concepts to help us understand the world around us, or is math the native
language of the universe itself? Jeff Dekofsky traces some famous arguments
in this ancient and hotly debated question.
I think maths has always been there…
If we think of maths as being another dimension, you could argue that its
just as fundamental to our existence as lenght, width, depth and time!
Math is simply a “5th dimension” if you will :)
atheists and agnostics will say it was invented religious people say it is
a discovery. But the truth is that our universe works like a time clock
everything has its pattern, the galaxies, stars and planets move in certain
direction that can described in mathematical terms.everything in this
natural world can be calculated and rationalized by putting certain laws in
each patterns. So the question becomes what happens if other species such
as aliens were to live in another planet and had some sense “conscience”
will they able to find patterns in our universe, I would say absolutely
yes. Hence I believe it is a discovery. Plus Have you ever wondered how
come our universe have so many patterns and laws???
Did we create mathematical concepts to help us understand the world around
us, or is math the native language of the universe itself?
I’m going to invent my own math and patent it. My prime numbers start with
42.
I agree most with Eugene Wigner. I mean he’s right, mathematics invented X
years ago turns out to be useful for some science stuff a lot of time
later. Sure, you can use more than one method, which might make it seem
like a “game”… But you can’t just use anything, only certain methods can
be used for a certain problem…. Or even if you try To forcibly use an
unusual piece of math for some problem it has to produce the same result.
This convergence isn’t something we plan for. It’s something that just is.
Maybe mathematics is “invented”, but what it studies, the underlining
thing, is part of the universe.
I would argue discovered, but I wonder how much this really matters. I am
very philosophical, but I’m trying to imagine what would change if EVERYONE
thought one way, or if EVERYONE thought the other.
Obviously the vast majority of people don’t give a fuck about this kind of
stuff, but if somehow hypothetically they cared just enough to have an
opinion, I’m not sure anything would change. The only thing I can think of
is unlikely and even more philosophical, involving how some people view
existence and their version of God. It’s bad to self-diagnose, but in ways
I think my discovery of the concept of determinism must have affected my
outlook on life, even if I can’t see exactly how. Taking that a step
further, I only see this debate affecting people with decent understanding
of math/logic having an existential crisis.
But maybe the debate does matter. Maybe it will push future mathematicians
in the right direction. I’m open-minded to a higher level/language of
understanding the universe, one that makes advanced calculus look like a 2
year old struggling to form a proper sentence. I’m thinking something like
Interstellar, but maybe a little more well defined.
1 + 1 is always 2, no matter if you “know” math or not. Humans are only
illustrating what is already established natural law.
Invented. Proof: 0! or Proof: 1.5!
Math is the default language of men who cannot think beyond socially
trained-in quantification or use imagination and ordinary observation to
“solve problems” in nature. One, two and many are all the symbolic figures
a human really needs to understand in life. If math were so all-important
to humans, a priori and sacrosanct, why don’t human mothers utter only
numerals, rather than language, to their newborn babies? Figure that one
out using mere mathematics.
Human invent nothing. Everything exist but he discover it. Phones? It’s
discovered glass plastic metal and electricity using and moving electricity
in wires to get it work.. They learn from the human body and learn
electricity and brain waves.. Human weak!
I think this is right: 1:30, “Mathematics is thus an invented logic
exercize. With no existence outside mankind’s conscious thought. A language
of abstract relationships. Based on patterns discerned by brains. Built to
use those patterns to invent a useful but artificial order from chaos.”
Leopold Kronike
Invented, becuase maths is simply a tool used, stars dont calculate how big
to be, that hapeens due to natural physics! The existence of 2 + 2 = 4,
would be there without us, but only as obvious logic,
I say that math is a universal language. If we wanted to communicate with
other civilizations from across the universe, we send math, not words. The
way it is used is invented, but it will never stop being invented until the
universe is dead.
Clearly Discovered ;o)