Is pure mathematics the basis for all thought?

In summary, the conversation discusses the role of pure mathematics in understanding the world and its relationship with physics. The participant believes that mathematics is the core of all academic disciplines and that all other disciplines can be reduced to applied mathematical problems. They also discuss the idea that our universe may be a mathematical structure and wonder why we, as conscious beings, perceive only a certain form of mathematics. The conversation also touches on the concept of axioms and their role in mathematics, and whether absolute truth is attainable through mathematics. Finally, there is a discussion about the relationship between physics and mathematics and whether mathematics serves as an explanation for all physical theories.
  • #71
Functor97 said:
Very interesting. Are you claiming that mathematics is in essence a calculating game? Your interpretation would make mathematics no different to physics, which is often disparaged for lacking rigor.
I guess my question is, can mathematics ever be perfectly rigorous?

Mathematics is a language, and like any language it is evolving.

If inconsistencies are found in math, like any language, it needs to go through reformulation.

This happens with every language.

There is an important facet though of mathematics that is somewhat paradoxical: mathematics is able to be so broad, yet so precise. This kind of property makes it a great language as not many languages have this property.

If our descriptive capacity is lacking to consistently describe something, we will ultimately have to create lingual definitions that fill the gap: this is what has happened before and I don't see it stopping anytime soon.
 

Similar threads

I Pure mathematics problem solving and relevance to theoretical physics
Replies
10
Views
1K
Why is mathematics limited/incomplete?
Replies
12
Views
2K
Insights Classification of Mathematics by 42 Branches
Replies
25
Views
3K
B The Paradox of 1 – 1 + 1 – 1 + 1 – 1 + …
Replies
5
Views
691
B Mathematics in STEM fields: GATEKEEPER OR GATEWAY?
Replies
13
Views
3K
B How is it that mathematics describe reality so well?
Replies
27
Views
8K
I Born rule as an axiom or as a theorem?
Replies
7
Views
1K
Programs PhD in pure Maths and... Physics
Replies
19
Views
3K
I What is a distinct feature of an ambiguous result?
Replies
15
Views
2K
A Shinichi Mochizuki's ABC Conjecture and Replication Crisis in Maths
Replies
33
Views
6K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top