The fractal group is actualy "fractal-art" and they don't
really like people to talk technical.
> >The real theological question is:
> >"Is mathematics an accident, or was math cleverly designed
> >by an omnipotent God?"
>
> This reminds me of some questions I raised on the Evolution
> list awhile back:
Well, I have an opion about everything, so ...
> 1) Was math invented or discovered?
Contrary to popular opinion, its discovered, not invented.
Mathematicians, nor anyone else, have the power to change
2+2=4. (although they can discover other algebras)
Niether, for that matter, does it seem possible for even
God to change that fact. Numbers and algebras existed
long before life evolved on planet earth.
Do recall, that the question "Can God create a rock
so large that she cannot lift it?" is really just a
mathematical statement about the powers of God.
While the question has no answer, (probably, cannot
have an answer), a collection of such mathematical
statements, together with the math that inter-relates
them, constitutes a mathematical description of what
God is.
Granted, there are people who will deny that God can be
described mathematically, but these are the same people
who will deny te existance of the empty set, the existance
of the axiom of choice, transfinite numbers, categories,
etc.
> 2) Were natural laws invented or discovered?
Contrary to popular wisdom, they are invented, not discovered.
I base this on the fact that no natural law ever exactly
reflects nature: Newtons' laws don't really describe gravity,
nor do Einsteins, except as an approximation. And when
quantum gravity is finnaly worked out, it will prove to be
an approximation as well. Newton, Einstein, etc. are heros
because they invented a law that more accurately describes
nature than any of thier contemporaris did. (Yes, there
are alternaitves to Einsteins formulation, and not all
of them have been ruled out yet.) That's the very nature
of science.
> I'm kicking myself for not throwing in a related, and
> probably more significant question:
>
> 3) Why are natural laws mathematical?
Because they cannot be anything else. Mathematics is a kind of a
language, a shorthand for the english language that allows you to say
more with fewer marks on the page. Thus, if you can say it
in english, you can always recast it as a formula. Conversly,
if it cannot be said, then it is not truly understood, and therefore,
not expressible mathematically.
Remember, there are theorms about certain grammers (e.g. the
lambda calculus) that state that "if something is sayable, then
it can be said in this language", and conversly, "if its not
sayble in this language, it cannot be said."
The ability to understand, and the ability to explain are deeply
intertwined. Since natural laws are simply explanations of
understandings, they cannot be anything other than mathematical.
That's kind of the magic of mathematics: it really does exist,
in and of itself, and cannot be escaped any more than you can
jump out of your own body. (witicism intended).
--linas