Re: Van Till's Ultimate Gap

From: D. F. Siemens, Jr. (dfsiemensjr@juno.com)
Date: Wed Sep 03 2003 - 14:24:35 EDT

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    Sheila,
    I have to agree with Moorad, not because of irrational numbers, but
    because there are so many kinds of numbers. One line, the one commonly
    noted, goes from integers to rationals to irrationals and imaginaries.
    But there is also modular arithmetic with a completely different _kind_
    of number in which negative and imaginary numbers do not occur. In
    geometry, there is invention. Indeed, the evidence shows that Euclid was
    aware of the possibility of non-Euclidean geometries, which were only
    rediscovered two millennia later. He separated common notions, which must
    be believed, from postulates, adopted for the system. One of the latter
    provides that all right angles are equal. It is modern geometers that
    lump all together as axioms. I can understand the view that some calculi
    are discovered, but some are invented as well.

    Can human beings create? Certainly not _ex nihilo_, except perhaps in the
    purely intellectual realm. But they do produce what has never been
    before. Seems to me that the production of the novel involves creativity.
    Dave

    On Wed, 03 Sep 2003 10:03:21 -0500 (CDT) sheila-mcginty@geotec.net
    writes:
    > The Bible says that the simple things confound the wise - this would
    > include
    > mathematics. I do not believe that math is a creation of man - man
    > cannot
    > create. I believe that we discovered math and, like Debbie, find
    > myself
    > continually intrigued and amazed with the wonder of mathematics and
    > our
    > universe. Math is one of those wonderful things that furthered my
    > belief in
    > God. The simplicity and amazing complexity of pi are incredible.
    > God is an
    > awesome God.
    >
    >
    > Quoting "Alexanian, Moorad" <alexanian@uncw.edu>:
    >
    > > I believe mathematics is a creation of man and the fact that it is
    > the
    > > language that describes the physical aspect of nature successfully
    > > corroborates that both man and nature are created by God.
    > >
    > > Moorad

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