3 ms·
You are describing the Platonic view mathematics[1]. The nature of math is far from a settled question among philosophers of mathematics, but both Plantonists a
by noblethrasher 11y ago
You are describing the Platonic view mathematics[1]. The nature of math is far from a settled question among philosophers of mathematics, but both Plantonists and Non-Platonists agree that good notation is a crucial factor in our ability to actually do math[2].
Anecdotally, it's easier for me to think in terms of operators rather than functions or methods, even though they're all the same thing.
[1] http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/platonism-mathematics/ http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/platonism-mathematics/
[2] http://introtologic.info/AboutLogicsite/whitehead%20Good%20Notation.html http://introtologic.info/AboutLogicsite/whitehead%20Good%20N...
- throwaway999888 11y agoBeing able to represent the same things in different ways is simply captured by the syntax/semantics dichotomy from disciplines like programming language theory. There is no need to invoke philosophy. Programmers care about syntax, too. But it's not like we've collectively figured it out yet. But I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out that we were further ahead than mathematicians in some ways. :o)