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Of course not, at least in any practical sense. Even plants use the mathematical properties of fractals to make effective structures. If we encountered aliens t
by akvadrako 8y ago
Of course not, at least in any practical sense. Even plants use the mathematical properties of fractals to make effective structures. If we encountered aliens that are as alien as possible, they would agree on the ratio of the radius to the circumference of a circle on a flat plane.
- jpadkins 8y agoI'm not debating whether math exists or governs our reality. My question was can other species understand math concepts? Or is this a unique sapien genetic mutation. AFAIK, plants don't communicate or use math concepts (even if they grow using them).
- pnongrata 8y agoAs the author puts it, it's not about genetic mutations. Sapiens have the ability to share fictions, stories, in which we can all agree in order to live in a functioning society. So, in this sense, mathematics, laws and private companies are all 'fictions'. It only works if people believe in it.
- fmihaila 8y ago> Even plants use the mathematical properties of fractals to make effective structures. I think a better way to put it would be that plant growth processes exhibit patterns that can be modelled by the mathematics of fractals. "Using mathematics", the way I see it, evokes a mind that uses abstract mental constructs (organized as "mathematics") for the purpose of modelling some aspect of reality. To the best of our knowledge, plants seem to lack that kind of mind.
- jimbokun 8y ago"If we encountered aliens that are as alien as possible, they would agree on the ratio of the radius to the circumference of a circle on a flat plane." Not if the aliens had the mental capacity of, say, a house cat.