gregconen comments on Rationality Quotes: February 2010 - Less Wrong

2 Post author: wedrifid 01 February 2010 06:39AM

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Comment author: gregconen 01 February 2010 05:05:36PM *  9 points [-]

I always saw a close kinship between the needs of "pure" mathematics and a certain hero of Greek mythology, Antaeus. The son of Earth, he had to touch the ground every so often in order to reestablish contact with his Mother; otherwise his strength waned. To strangle him, Hercules simply held him off the ground. Back to mathematics. Separation from any down-to-earth input could safely be complete for long periods — but not forever.

-Benoit Mandelbrot

Comment author: Steve_Rayhawk 03 February 2010 02:49:37AM *  1 point [-]

While I agree, where could the earth be getting its strength from?

Comment author: Steve_Rayhawk 03 February 2010 03:05:33AM *  2 points [-]

Also: if mathematics in contact only with mathematics becomes "less mathematical" than mathematics in contact with praxis, then how can praxis in contact with mathematics become more practical than praxis out of contact with mathematics?

Comment author: gregconen 03 February 2010 05:13:25PM 2 points [-]

If you have no mathematical techniques, you don't know how to think about your empirical evidence.

If you have no empirical evidence, you have nothing to use your mathematical techniques on.

You need both.

Comment author: gwern 04 February 2010 07:33:24PM 0 points [-]

Circular reasoning. One chunk pushes against the next, which pushes against the next....until you're back where you started.

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