Up until yesterday, I had thought mathematics was the foundation of an objective reality that exists outside our mind. I saw mathematics as embodying perfection. But, yesterday I came upon Goedel's incompleteness theorem, and the conclusions that can be derived from it. I feel as if I have lost faith in a god; I am sure my belief in mathematics was psychologically related to a belief in a god. How can you mathematicians and physicists, maintain interest in mathematics with the advent of things such as the Copenhagen interpretation and Goedel's incompleteness theorem?
juvenal
Feb22-05, 02:24 PM
Drugs. Hard drugs.
Atomos
Feb22-05, 02:26 PM
so my life is over already? At the age of 16? There are only drugs to cure my woes?
dextercioby
Feb22-05, 02:40 PM
Look at this way:if suddenly people would lose interest in mathematics,many of them would lose their jobs,go broke & die hungry...:wink: :tongue2:
Daniel.
P.S.Message:Phuck Gödel & his theorem!!:mad:
brewnog
Feb22-05, 02:46 PM
There are people who are actually interested in maths? No way!
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Maths is a tool, that's all. Learn how to use it, then go and find a proper interest!
(Hmm, having said that, I do know some spanner enthusiasts.)
Edgardo
Feb22-05, 02:55 PM
Hey, there may be Gödel's theorem, but as long maths can be applied by engineers who build airplanes etc. and it works, then everything's fine.
devious_
Feb22-05, 02:58 PM
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Maths is a tool, that's all. Learn how to use it, then go and find a proper interest!
Thankfully there are lots of people who disagree with that.
PerennialII
Feb22-05, 03:05 PM
Thankfully there are lots of people who disagree with that.
Yep, math is a form of art.
juvenal
Feb22-05, 03:07 PM
so my life is over already? At the age of 16? There are only drugs to cure my woes?
Yes. Ssh don't tell anyone - the government drugs our water in order to give us the will to live, in spite of Godel's Incompleteness Theorem. You must have stopped drinking water in the last couple days. Dehydrated?
Atomos
Feb22-05, 03:23 PM
the government drugs our water in order to give us the will to live, in spite of Godel's Incompleteness Theorem.
Ahahaha :rofl:
BobG
Feb22-05, 04:47 PM
Yep, math is a form of art.
It can't be both? (a tool and art)
A good slide rule is a lot more than just a handy tool for solving quadratic equations and vector problems. It provides an aesthetic pleasure far beyond just getting the right answer.
A good car is a lot more than just a handy way to get from home to work. Some people see them as works of art, even going to the point of building models of them. On the other hand, some people are just scary - model car (http://www.wreckedexotics.com/newphotos/art/art_20040615_005.shtml) Click "Next Photo" for close up of front end. In fact click Previous or Next to see entire collection of model cars (Previous is best - such violence! The airbag was a nice touch, but were the blood stains necessary? And as to the guy who built an entire junk yard of wrecked model cars!??).
Err, uh :uhh: I mean brewnog's right. Quite obsessing over it and look out your window once in a while (real life's much better - btw, do BMW's inspire violence in anyone else, or is it just me? BMW (http://www.wreckedexotics.com/newphotos/weird/weird532.shtml)
selfAdjoint
Feb22-05, 05:39 PM
It can't be both? (a tool and art)
When I was in grad school at U. Wisconsin in the early 60's, you could take your Ph.D. in either the faculty of sciences or the faculty of arts. The difference was in the color of your hood. I "solved" the problem by not getting a Ph.D :yuck: .
brewnog
Feb22-05, 06:43 PM
When I was in grad school at U. Wisconsin in the early 60's, you could take your Ph.D. in either the faculty of sciences or the faculty of arts. The difference was in the color of your hood. I "solved" the problem by not getting a Ph.D :yuck: .
Heh, here you can choose to graduate with a BA or a BSc in psychology. The course contents are identical!
Icebreaker
Feb22-05, 07:01 PM
IMO Godel refutes his own theorem. But I have only briefly looked at it, so I may be wrong.
Math is the bridge between art and science. That's GRANDEUR for you.
saltydog
Feb22-05, 07:47 PM
I'm interested in math. Of course I have a lot of lay-around time: easy livin' where you been so long :rofl:
Bartholomew
Feb22-05, 08:39 PM
I am still only a relative beginner in math but it is a discipline whereby the human ability to think can be truly extended. To me, that makes it very interesting.