[ExI] The "Unreasonable" Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences

[Stathis Papaioannou]

2008/9/27 Jef Allbright <jef at jefallbright.net>:

> This question is similar to "when did you stop beating your wife?"
> The question presumes the ontological status of "17."  A valid
> question would be one that can be modeled as a system providing a
> defined output.  Otherwise, what can it ***mean***?

I don't think mathematics is contingent on the existence of a material
world. If it were, then 17, or its primeness, would disappear if
enough of the universe disappeared. That would be an extreme form of
anti-platonism.


-- 
Stathis Papaioannou