math: invented or discovered? TOK project

the end is the best
starring: Glen Weber Maddy Crowell
written by: Rachel Lazar

Category:

Education

Tags:

• tok
• ec

[actionmethod]

Decide for yourself?? Numerical relationships are not random, however the model of mathematics is only a model to explain the relationships. I.E. "maths" is DEFINITELY discovered, to what degree or how accurately we can model it using mathematical models is another question.

[thatssomedeepstuff]

@actionmethod In the words of Mary Edna Tookey: "How, if mathematics is simply an invention of the human mind, is it that there are all these wonderful applications of it that "work" in the outside world, or conversely, how, if mathemtics is discovered, is it that there seem to be so many possible axiomatic systems all of which fulfill the criteria for a good set of axioms and yet some of which, at least, seem to have axioms and theorems that contradict those in another system".

[actionmethod]

That pretentious quote is far to philosophical for my liking. I doubt you understand it fully either, seems like a straw man to me. Attack my argument please.

[thatssomedeepstuff]

@actionmethod Perhaps we did not articulate what exactly the debate was, since this video was meant for a class where we had previously discussed it. The question we meant to address is whether math is man's language to describe nature or whether mathematical entities actually exist in and of themselves independently of man's articulation of them. So you seem to be arguing both sides, calling the entities "maths" and mathematical knowledge "models".

[thatssomedeepstuff]

@actionmethod And I hardly think a quote from my teacher is pretentious, or a straw man.

[HedgehogRebellion]

The principles of mathematics were at play before man existed, so it was discovered.

The NOTATION of mathematics was a human creation.

[EKon235]

What we call "Mathematics" is absolutely a 'discovered' 'entity'. When someone stumbles on or 'discovers' some "method" of 'modeling' some variable relationship between, say, X and Z, be it an equation or organized patterning, it basically means that WE as Humans can now understand that relationship in nature which may have always existed, therefore waiting to be "uncovered" or "modeled". Who's to say aliens don't have another equally valid way of representing or "explaining" that relationship?

[SuperUncleruckus]

math is discovered since numbers and equations were to support the common mathematics, which led to more advanced things. Math wasn't invented, but the ability to use it further was. That was by Aryabatta from India, with the prosperous and world renowned school of mathematics way back when.

[mmw818s]

What kind of question is this? Of course it was discovered.

[sophieaction]

i cant understand what your saying very well