Peterdjones comments on Math is Subjunctively Objective - Less Wrong

14 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 25 July 2008 11:06AM

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Comment author: Yosarian2 01 January 2013 03:56:42AM 0 points [-]

It's possible that they are not, but it seems like there's more to the question that that.

I guess what I would say is "is math a fundamental property of the universe, like the laws of physcis, or is it a useful and consistent tool that only exists in our mind, like morality?"

You would probably have to break it down further then that. Pythagorean theorem clearly seems to be a property of the real world, as does pi, and geometry in general. Once you get to more abstract math, though, it becomes less clear to me if you are describing something fundamental or merely manipulating symbols.

Comment author: Peterdjones 01 January 2013 01:57:22PM 0 points [-]

Pythagorean theorem clearly seems to be a property of the real world, as does pi

There is nothing clear about either of those. Both can be proven without empirical investigation. P's T is not true in curved space.

Comment author: [deleted] 01 January 2013 05:51:54PM *  1 point [-]

The theorem (as ISTM is understood nowadays) is a statement about flat space, so I'd put it as "it doesn't apply to curved space"; saying that it's false in curved space sounds to me like saying that "in the US, people drive on the right side of the road" is false in the UK.