so says the language-oriented chick

[novapsyche]

What does math tell us?

That even the imaginary exists. (Not only does it exist, but might also help explain parameters of physical reality.)

Comments

[inhumandecency.livejournal.com]

All math is equally imaginary. Creating mathematical expressions doesn't make anything real, but it sometimes creates systems which map on to important systems in our physical world. If you're talking about the "imaginary" numbers, I think they do map onto some real things, but you'll have to ask someone who knows more math than I do.

[guttaperk.livejournal.com]

That all depends on what you define to be "real".

[inhumandecency.livejournal.com]

I'm used to hearing that when I talk about "reality," but in this situation I don't understand what you mean.

[guttaperk.livejournal.com]

Well, mental constructs- including mathematical ones- are certainly "real", but it is hard to argue that they enjoy precisely the same manner of "reality" as a chair.

There are those who would limit their definition of reality to concrete physicality. I am not one of them.

[kittenkissies.livejournal.com]

Does it exist before it is imagined, and wouldn't that countermand imagination?

[vaxjedi]

The map is not the land. The menu is not the meal.

What math tells us is that we can make models that produce consistant and correct results even if the processes seem nonsensical.

In fact this is the same as the Copenhagen interpretation of Quantum Mechanics (the dominant interpretation), which says simply that quantum mechanics is a model that produces results consistant with reality - what's REALLY happening is unimportant as long as the model still describes the results adequitely.