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You seem to be confusing particle configurations for conceptual truth. Truths about triangles are truths about physical triangles to an extent. Same with circle
by goldenkey 10y ago
You seem to be confusing particle configurations for conceptual truth. Truths about triangles are truths about physical triangles to an extent. Same with circles although you are probably thinking "but theres no perfect circle in Nature!!." True.
But the universe isnt just particle configurations. It's the rules of physics too.
Mathematical truths, the ones mathematicians care about, are founded on axioms that have truth values set by our relationship with the physical world, it informs our intuition. This is inescapable.
- j7ake 10y agoI would not disagree that many axioms that we use have direct relationships with the physical world, this is one of many ways math is useful in describing nature. I was trying to say that axioms in general do not have to be set to accommodate the physical world.
- posterboy 10y agoThose would be strangely wrong axioms though and probably not what OP had in mind. Just because a theory with axiom 1==0 contains numbers doesn't mean it's math, at least if it is not consistent. But maybe you are right, math isn't the epitome of human knowledge. It is the art of learning that knowledge. Still, in some way, individual knowledge constitutes the extent of anyone's own universe.