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> invented The words for numbers were indeed “invented,” but the numbers themselves, like much of math, was discovered.
by Koshkin 4y ago
> invented
The words for numbers were indeed “invented,” but the numbers themselves, like much of math, was discovered.
- ivanbakel 4y agoThat's a philosophical view, and I don't think there's any basis for stating it as fact. One of the great debates of mathematical ontology is whether mathematical concepts are discovered or invented.
- Kinrany 4y agoLike most great philosophical debates, it probably comes from humans being bad at understanding their own language.
- Koshkin 4y agoIndeed, the word ‘invented’ is often abused by being used in place of ‘discovered’ or ‘created.’ (No, Faraday did not “invent” the laws of electromagnetism; nor did Linus Torvalds “invent” Linux.)