Interesting, will we ever know if another living being can do calculations? It’s interesting that many species create structures that are very mathematical in nature, such as a honeycomb. You raise questions about language, and then use language and definitions to prove Pluto is not a planet. . Alerik, do you think we can prove if math exists on other places other than earth? Do you each think that unanswerable questions are worth exploring?
Math as a creation, as a tool to survive, is a great place to start your conversation. Here, you’re asserting that math has a purpose, what philosophers would call “Telos”: an end goal. This is a very functional way to look at math, and a common way math is used today. Think of algorithms today, and the function they play from stock markets to city planning. It is very practical and grounded. I like that you mention only humans are “doing math.” Perhaps we are the only ones capable of consciously performing mathematical functions, but a Leopard timing its leap, or birds flying in a “V” are surely, on some level, performing math as we understand it. Your discussion turns into a linguistic one, which is one I’m interested in – this might be a good way to connect it back to infinity, and whether that is a linguistic problem or a math problem.
Thank you for sharing your discussion!
Interesting, will we ever know if another living being can do calculations? It’s interesting that many species create structures that are very mathematical in nature, such as a honeycomb. You raise questions about language, and then use language and definitions to prove Pluto is not a planet. . Alerik, do you think we can prove if math exists on other places other than earth? Do you each think that unanswerable questions are worth exploring?
Math as a creation, as a tool to survive, is a great place to start your conversation. Here, you’re asserting that math has a purpose, what philosophers would call “Telos”: an end goal. This is a very functional way to look at math, and a common way math is used today. Think of algorithms today, and the function they play from stock markets to city planning. It is very practical and grounded. I like that you mention only humans are “doing math.” Perhaps we are the only ones capable of consciously performing mathematical functions, but a Leopard timing its leap, or birds flying in a “V” are surely, on some level, performing math as we understand it. Your discussion turns into a linguistic one, which is one I’m interested in – this might be a good way to connect it back to infinity, and whether that is a linguistic problem or a math problem.
Thank you for sharing your discussion!