3 ms·
The conveyance of mathematics from one mind to another must be done with some form of language.
by kruhft 9y ago
The conveyance of mathematics from one mind to another must be done with some form of language.
- adrianratnapala 9y agoThis is trivially true, but only because you can keep stretching the definition of language. For example suppose a geometer explains something to another geometer just by drawing diagrams with no verbal or textual annotation. You can plausibly claim that "geometry diagrams" are a language, but now you are defining language so broadly that the term is almost useless.
- kruhft 9y agoWhy would you say that "geometry diagrams" are not a language? Google, define language: lan·guage ˈlaNGɡwij/Submit noun 1. the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way. "a study of the way children learn language" 2. the system of communication used by a particular community or country. "the book was translated into twenty-five languages" synonyms: tongue, mother tongue, native tongue; More I would say "geometry diagrams" are a language, by the second definition.
- guelo 9y agoThere are loose conventions. For example, in some contexts θ and α usually designate angles. But even then the only way to know if the angle is in degrees or radians is by tracing the proof from the start. It's easy to make errors.