Irrational Numbers Don't Exist: Worship Spiders

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the existence of irrational numbers and includes humorous commentary on Pythagorean beliefs and practices. Participants explore the implications of irrational and imaginary numbers, while also engaging in light-hearted banter about worshipping spiders.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that irrational numbers do not exist, while others suggest that imaginary numbers are the ones that do not exist.
  • A participant references the Pythagorean belief system, noting their historical attempts to conceal the existence of irrational numbers.
  • There is a humorous exchange regarding Pythagorean rules, including a list of their peculiar codes of conduct.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the seriousness of the discussion, framing it in a comedic context.
  • One participant questions whether the Pythagorean prohibition against walking on roads is a theological constraint.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the existence of irrational numbers, with multiple competing views presented. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of Pythagorean beliefs.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to historical beliefs and practices that may not be fully substantiated, and the reasoning behind certain Pythagorean rules is not clearly established.

Pythagorean
Science Advisor
Messages
4,430
Reaction score
327
don't exist!

and spiders are your new gods, worship them...
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Um... okay.

:rolleyes:
 
Pythagorean said:
and spiders are your new gods, worship them...

New? Where have you been?
 
Irrational numbers are just a little nutty. It's the imaginary numbers that don't exist.

- Warre
 
Heh, i was trying to keep in character.

(The Pythagoreans tried to hide the existence of irrational numbers in nature since it assaulted their belief that the universe was made completely of integer ratios)
 
I'll drown you, you dirty rat!

- Warren
 
Q: Why did the Pythagorean cross the road?
 
Gokul43201 said:
Q: Why did the Pythagorean cross the road?

To get to the other side?
 
No. It was a trick quetion. Pythagoreans are forbidden from walking on roads! <a little poetic license there>

But if I were guessing along your lines, I'd have gone for: "to get to the opposite side".
 
Last edited:
  • #10
Gokul43201 said:
No. It was a trick quetion. Pythagoreans are forbidden from walking on roads! <a little poetic license there>

Only diagonal ones.

- Warren
 
  • #11
ALL numbers are imaginary! So what?
 
  • #12
selfAdjoint said:
ALL numbers are imaginary! So what?


No, all numbers are complex. Silly.
 
  • #13
Gokul43201 said:
No. It was a trick quetion. Pythagoreans are forbidden from walking on roads! <a little poetic license there>

interesting. Do you know the reasoning for this? Is it a theological constraint?
 
  • #14
SpaceTiger said:
New? Where have you been?

this is for the generally uninformed public. Absolute geniuses like you and I know the form of perfection when we see it.

http://www.timart.be/Npaginas/foto/wolf_spider.jpg

omg! 6:8 is 3:4 is *fap*fap*fap*drool*worship*
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #15
Pythagorean said:
interesting. Do you know the reasoning for this? Is it a theological constraint?
Not looked much into it.You've heard of the other crazy-@$$ rules they had, right?

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=Pythagorean

No one really knows exactly what doctrine Pythagoras taught to his disciples, but it is thought to be a reformist brand of Orphism. The Pythagoreans were famous for believing in the 'transmigration of souls' -- metempsychosis, or reincarnation, and for the belief that 'the whole heaven is a harmony and a number', that number was 'the substance of all things,' as Aristotle wrote of them.

The Pythagoreans lived communally, regarding property as shared and treating men and women equally. Scientific discoveries and mathematical theories were also regarded as group property, and even after his death were mystically credited to Pythagoras himself.

They were required to follow a code of conduct in their daily life, some elements of which were:

* Not to eat beans. (Still good advice for those living communally!)
* Not to pick up what has fallen.
* Not to touch a white cock.
* Not to break bread.
* Not to step over a crossbar. (Hmm. cf. knights templar?)
* Not to stir the fire with iron.
* Not to eat from a whole loaf. (Don't eat bread then - or have someone break it for you..)
* Not to pluck a garland.
* Not to sit on a quart measure.
* Always put on the right shoe first.
* Not to eat the heart.
* Not to walk on the highway.
* Not to look back when crossing a border.
* Not to let swallows share one's roof.
* When the pot is taken off the fire, not to leave the mark of it in the ashes, but to stir them together.
* Do not look in a mirror beside a light.
* When you rise from the bedclothes, roll them together and smooth out the impress of the body.
 
  • #16
They were required to follow a code of conduct in their daily life, some elements of which were:

* Not to eat beans. (Still good advice for those living communally!)
* Not to pick up what has fallen.
* Not to touch a white cock.
* Not to break bread.
* Not to step over a crossbar. (Hmm. cf. knights templar?)
* Not to stir the fire with iron.
* Not to eat from a whole loaf. (Don't eat bread then - or have someone break it for you..)
* Not to pluck a garland.
* Not to sit on a quart measure.
* Always put on the right shoe first.
* Not to eat the heart.
* Not to walk on the highway.
* Not to look back when crossing a border.
* Not to let swallows share one's roof.
* When the pot is taken off the fire, not to leave the mark of it in the ashes, but to stir them together.
* Do not look in a mirror beside a light.
* When you rise from the bedclothes, roll them together and smooth out the impress of the body.

Oh man, this is going to take way too much energy...

but atheism is so boring... :/
 

Similar threads

Irrational Number Raised To Irrational Number
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
3K
Irrational Numbers a and b used in various expressions
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Undergrad Is the odd root of an even number always an irrational number?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Show that square root of 3 is an irrational number
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
MHB Challenge involving irrational number
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad I don't understand Dedekind cuts
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
1K
Undergrad How to relate multiplication of irrational numbers to real world?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Undergrad Generating Irrational Ratios in Wave Simulations
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
High School Is PI (##\pi##) really a number?
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
3K
Undergrad Rational powers of irrational numbers
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
3K