Was mathematics invented or discovered?

Nehushtan · 2013-03-09 02:49:22

This is a question Ive seen on at least two other forums. I did a search here but couldnt find any thread on this topic so I thought Id start one.

My humble opinion is that mathematical truths and ideas were discovered, but the tools and equipment we use to study them were invented. As an example, take this statement: 1 + 2 = 3. My belief is that the truth behind the equation was discovered, but the symbols 1, +, 2, = and 3 were invented.

Any thoughts?

anonimnystefy · 2013-03-09 02:52:31

I think all of it was only discovered. When I think of it now, everything that exists in this world was only discovered, even though we call some things inventions and not discoveries.

bobbym · 2013-03-09 03:08:40

If you are a Platonist, you will believe it is discovered. The inference is that it exists in nature and therefore is incredibly deep and meaningful.

If you are a Formalist, you will believe that it is an invention of man like a game such as chess. It has rules and is logical but it is artificial.

Last edited by bobbym (2013-03-09 03:10:37)

Nehushtan · 2013-03-09 03:18:05

Well, something was invented if it hadnt existed before and was brought into existence by human agency; on the other hand it was discovered if it has always existed, even before humans were aware of it.

Thus the natural numbers were discovered. They existed before the first humans were aware of them, and would have continued to exist if there had been no humans to be aware of them. But after discovering them, the humans needed a way to represent them concretely. The Romans came up with I, II, III, , while the Chinese use 一, 二, 三, . Our modern notation 1, 2, 3, , was first used by the Indians who could thus be said to have invented it. Similarly the arithmetical operation of addition and the relation of equality were discovered, while the symbols + and = were only first used in the 16th century by the Welsh mathematician Robert Recorde and since he was the first to use them, we say can say that he invented them.

http://z13.invisionfree.com/SAKE/index. … wtopic=267

Last edited by Nehushtan (2013-03-17 12:43:54)

Bob · 2013-03-09 20:42:43

hi

Nehushtan wrote:

My humble opinion is that mathematical truths and ideas were discovered, but the tools and equipment we use to study them were invented.

I'm happy with that. I might say that the tools and equipment are the axioms and the discoveries are the theorems. That works for me.

Bob

anonimnystefy · 2013-03-09 20:50:48

But then you would be making a difference between a written word and number. They both always existed, someone just had to find them.

Bob · 2013-03-09 21:00:11

Six sheep can exist without humans having to be around at all. But calling that amount of sheep 'six' is a human invention. I thought I had established that all numbers are inventions.

Let's imagine a few seconds after the big bang. No intelligent life around. Where is the concept of number then?

Bob

anonimnystefy · 2013-03-09 21:09:53

It is still there. Waiting and waiting for someone to discover it. Maybe nobody ever would and maybe someone will.

n872yt3r · 2013-03-16 10:44:38

I think it was invented, because numbers don't exist. They are a placeholder we use for a certain amount. They're not exactly one thing, if they were, shape-shifting could exist, because numbers would be everywhere. They're sort of a principle.

digits · 2013-03-21 02:51:18

Mathematics is an artifact of the human mind, and a tool whereby the human mind wraps itself around reality.

Cheers!
digits

Mrwhy · 2013-04-20 06:45:28

digits wrote:

Mathematics is an artifact of the human mind, and a tool whereby the human mind wraps itself around reality.
Cheers!
digits

Yes, exactly right, digits.
EVERYTHING we think and talk about - even you, digits.
The brain, we think (imagine?), receives things we call "sensory nerve signals".
This is the stuff from which the BRAIN dreams up the "world" and calls it "real" (in order to prolong its sanity!) The ones who thought the sabre tooth tiger "not real" got eaten.

If you doubt this, tell me how you know right now you are not dreaming!

pellerinb · 2013-04-25 22:21:24

n872yt3r wrote:

I think it was invented, because numbers don't exist. They are a placeholder we use for a certain amount. They're not exactly one thing, if they were, shape-shifting could exist, because numbers would be everywhere. They're sort of a principle.

The idea of a placeholder makes sense.
Objects counted any other way would still be just as numerical. The numerical quality itself perhaps comes with objects being physical. There might be 1 x 10^80 atoms in the physical universe ... it's an intrinsic quality/principle of the universe, we might say?

bobbym · 2013-04-25 23:29:16

Wasn't it Kronecker who said,"God invented the integers, all the rest is man's"

Agnishom · 2013-11-13 04:20:06

some of the posts here are deleted?

bobbym · 2013-11-13 06:22:39

Hmmm, that is difficult to say. Was GiB in this thread?

Agnishom · 2013-11-13 13:17:49

I do not think so.

Why is that difficult?

bobbym · 2013-11-13 13:21:23

Because that is rarely done unless he is involved, then it is common.

Agnishom · 2013-11-13 13:29:36

But this discussion is very important. You should not delete things here.

Putting something like [comment removed; sexual slur] should be enough

bobbym · 2013-11-13 13:33:36

Who said I did? I do not remember it or have any record of that. I was just saying it probably could only occur with him.

puz · 2014-08-21 14:38:02

Some concepts feel more invented than discovered. For example, semigroup feels more invented whereas group feels discovered. Quaternion feels invented whereas rotation matrix feels discovered. Or maybe it's just me who lacks understanding.

Primenumbers · 2016-04-27 14:09:54

The word 'Math' is invented. That's why you can say it in different languages and it doesn't matter. However the math itself was discovered because it is highly unlikely that some guy in China and some guy in England invented the same mathematics. They could have used different symbols.......... but it would have been the same mathematics.

If mathematics was invented to cope with sensory information linking it to reality. I would just like to say that all sensory information is real. Just because you could be dreaming doesn't mean you are.

Nehushtan · 2016-07-17 13:39:23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_xR5Kes4Rs

bobbym · 2016-07-17 15:35:47

If you are a Platonist, you will believe it is discovered. The inference is that it exists in nature and therefore is incredibly deep and meaningful.
If you are a Formalist, you will believe that it is an invention of man like a game such as chess. It has rules and is logical but it is artificial.

At 1:22 into the video we see a Unicorn, an EBE and a werewolf or zombie all on the Moon or some other lifeless looking ball. Makes one wonder whether ole Jeff has ever been to Nevada.

Gophne · 2016-10-18 07:49:31

Was mathematics invented or discovered....an application or a principle. I think a bit of both. Math only exists within consciousness...no consciousness no math! and yes other animals do have degrees of consciousness as well and some perhaps much more.

The problem with mathematics is that it is inherently contradictory/paradoxical.

Consider this, before we can think about something like e.g a math problem....we need time, say 1 second. But 1 second is composed of an infinite amount of fractions of a second. So before we can pass the threshold of 1 second, we first have to pass all these smaller fractions of time....this is an impossibility due to the infinite amount of fractions of time between the zero moment and 1 second...so no thought is possible mathematically.

In fact life is not possible...since there was no time to create it.

Last edited by Gophne (2016-10-18 08:07:24)

Math Is Fun Forum

#1 2013-03-09 02:49:22

Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#2 2013-03-09 02:52:31

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#3 2013-03-09 03:08:40

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#4 2013-03-09 03:18:05

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#5 2013-03-09 20:42:43

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#6 2013-03-09 20:50:48

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#7 2013-03-09 21:00:11

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#8 2013-03-09 21:09:53

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#9 2013-03-16 10:44:38

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#10 2013-03-21 02:51:18

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#11 2013-04-20 06:45:28

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#12 2013-04-25 22:21:24

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#13 2013-04-25 23:29:16

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#14 2013-11-13 04:20:06

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#15 2013-11-13 06:22:39

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#16 2013-11-13 13:17:49

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#17 2013-11-13 13:21:23

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#18 2013-11-13 13:29:36

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#19 2013-11-13 13:33:36

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#20 2014-08-21 14:38:02

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#21 2016-04-27 14:09:54

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#22 2016-07-17 13:39:23

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#23 2016-07-17 15:35:47

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

#24 2016-10-18 07:49:31

Re: Was mathematics invented or discovered?

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