On May 5, 11:48 am, Jerry Kraus <jkraus_1...@yahoo.com> wrote:> On May 5, 11:22 am, z <gzuck...@snail-mail.net> wrote:> > > On May 2, 1:48 pm, Jerry Kraus <jkraus_1...@yahoo.com> wrote:> > > > Actually, most of mathematics was developed by philosophers like> > > Pythagoras, Aristotle and Leibniz.- Hide quoted text -> > > > - Show quoted text -> > > perhaps you could instruct us on the philosophical implications of> > mathematics vis a vis radical constructivism versus social> > constructivism, and how that affects the question of solipsism? I've> > been idly wondering.> > Depends on exactly how you define mathematics. Which is a matter of> considerable debate. Personally, I see mathematics simply as a> language designed to be extremely precise and testable. As much as> possible.> > So, the degree to which we contruct our own realities, or have them> constructed for us by our social context would -- according to my> "precise language" conception of mathematics -- be relatively> independant of mathematics. Ideally, mathematics would transcend> contructivism, or solipsism. That's the idea, anyway.> > Unfortunately, many professional scientists abuse mathematics, simply> using it as a kind of propaganda for their own agenda, ideas and> interests. Even the most precise language can be used to state> nonsense. But, it's realitively easy for someone who understands it> to see that it's nonsense. Unfortunately, not that many people> understand mathematics, so they can't distinguish mathematical> gibberish -- such as the global warming mathematical models -- from> the meaningful use of mathematics to solve real world problems.> > Excellent Question, by the way.

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