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It seems like there is a universal sense in which statements like 1+1=2" or "7 is a prime number" are true, no?
by ironSkillet 1y ago
It seems like there is a universal sense in which statements like 1+1=2" or "7 is a prime number" are true, no?
- card_zero 1y agoMathematics does its best, but it's still a language, and fallible. It's trying to explain things, and the concepts like "prime number" and "one" can be shaken by later improvements to understanding.
- postmodern100 1y ago[dead]
- psychoslave 1y agoIf by "universal" we mean median adult human which are apt and willing to engage in basic mathematical thoughts, yes. That’s certainly already a very greatly reduced set of entities compared to everything in existence, though.
- visarga 1y agoI disagree, it is not universal. 1+1=2 is just a specific system of notation with consistency. There was a time when no human conceptualized this idea of 1+1=2, they did not have numerals or know about addition. Before you get to 1+1=2 you need a bunch of prior concepts that are themselves contingent on culture and history.
- dragonwriter 1y ago> 1+1=2 is just a specific system of notation with consistency. So, that that is system of notation which has consistency is itself a truth, isn’t it?