Philosophy and Math

Ah, here we are at the end of another week. I really enjoyed this look at math; it's given me a few new perspectives on math and systems of knowing.

3. Why is the study of mathematics considered to be the equivalent of the study of pure philosophy? What characteristics do they share in common?

Math and philosophy both seek truth. Math is based upon simple statements and presuppositions, as is philosophy. Both systems build upon those statements to come to new theories. The only real difference is math makes a whole lot more sense and is a lot easier to use.

5. Dr. Priest indicated that he believes math to be discovered, not invented or created. What did he mean by this? Being that, as indicated in the reading, a lot of mathematics is applicable to things in the physical world, what are some conclusions that we can reach following Dr. Priest's line of thought?

I believe Dr. Priest meant that math isn't invented because it always existed. Our knowledge becomes more complete and extensive as we discover more math and more ways to apply it, but we did not create it. If we extended this idea, we could say that nothing is really invented, we just discover ways of using what we already have. Of course this assumes that there is some absolute truth separate from our knowledge, this could get really nasty if we didn't make that assumption. . . .

(I didn't want to do the first problem because of how easy it is, but I'm more mathematician than writer, so here it is.)

1. if n is any integer and 2(n) is even and 2(n) +1 is odd:
the product of two odd numbers is odd because (2n+1)(2n+1) = 4n^2 +2n = 2(2n^2 +2n) + 1
and the sum of two odd numbers is even because (2n+1)+(2n+1) = 4n+2 = 2(2n+1)

A Nahua Perspective

As I stated in my last post, one of my many obsessions is the culture of the Aztecs. (I should mention that "Aztec" is a very imprecise term, so from now on, I shall use the term "Nahua," which includes all those in Mesoamerica who spoke a language from the Nahuatl family.) Currently I'm reading an excellent book called Aztec Thought and Culture by Miguel Leon-Portilla. It is almost certainly the best book I've ever read on the topic, and some of the poetry I read just this weekend seemed to tie in very nicely with the questions we've been discussing in class. For example, a passage attributed to King Nezahualcoyotl questions if there is anything stable and true in the world:

Truly do we live on earth?
Not forever on earth; only a little while here.
Although it be jade, it will be broken,
Although it be gold, it is crushed,
Although it be quetzal feather, it is torn asunder.
Not forever on earth; only a little while here.

Another poet asks:

Do we speak the truth here, oh Giver of Life?
We merely a dream, we only rise from a dream.
All is like a dream . . .
No one speaks here of truth . . . .

Sounds a bit like the butterfly question, doesn't it? Many more Nahuatl poets and theologians questioned the existence of man and truth. Others assumed that truth exists, but questioned whether humans could obtain it:

Does man posses any truth?
If not, our song is no longer true.
Is anything stable and lasting?
What reaches its aim?

The part about all this which I find most interesting is that the Nahuas began to ask these questions two centuries before Socrates's time.

Ok, I thought I might as well extrapolate a bit on some of the other ways in which I'm really nerdy. I'm a mathematics and Spanish major and a computer science and Bible and religion minor. I really like Doctor Who, The Twilight Zone, and Torchwood, but not a lot of other science fiction. My favorite TV program is Masterpiece Theater. I play the piano, the pipe organ, and handbells (I can even play four-in-hand!). I also like studying really random bits of history. Henry XIII (and the rest of the Tudor line) and ancient Aztec culture are amongst my favorites. I love to read, but I tend to get too obsessive about it, so I have to restrain myself during the school year, or I won't study. I like fiction best, but historical novels and the occasional work of non-fiction are also good.

And of course, I love opera. Except Mozart. I love Don Giovanni, but other than that (and a few random arias), I can't stand Mozart's operas. They're far too happy. I think my favorite opera is Lucia Di Lammermoor, but I also really like La Traviata. I also like Wagner, even though I've only heard two of his operas.

This has been a very brief look at just how nerdy I am. I hope it did not frighten you excessively.

ThatOperaNerd

I'm actually nerdy in a lot of ways, not just when it comes to opera.