There is debate among scholars, but many argue that math was discovered as it exists in the universe and was not simply invented by humans.
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The question of whether math was invented or discovered is still a topic of debate among scholars. However, many argue that math was not simply invented by humans, but rather discovered as it exists in the universe.
One famous quote on the topic comes from the renowned mathematician, Pythagoras, who said: “All is number.” This statement implies that numbers are universal and exist independently of human thought.
Moreover, some interesting facts on the topic of math being discovered rather than invented include:
- Mathematical patterns can be found throughout nature, such as the Fibonacci sequence in plant growth and the golden ratio in the proportions of human faces.
- The laws of mathematics appear to be consistent and unchanging throughout the universe.
- Different cultures have developed unique mathematical systems, but the underlying principles and concepts are fundamentally the same.
To further illustrate this concept, here is a table contrasting the idea of invention vs. discovery in regards to math:
| Invention | Discovery |
|---|---|
| Implies that humans created math from scratch | Implies that math existed before humans and was uncovered |
| Suggests that math is subjective and could have been invented differently | Suggests that math is objective and universal |
| Implies that math can be changed or improved upon | Implies that math is constant and unchanging |
In conclusion, while there may not be a concrete answer to whether math was invented or discovered, it appears that evidence leans towards the idea of discovery. The universality and consistency of mathematical principles suggest that these concepts have always existed, waiting to be uncovered by inquisitive minds.
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This video discusses the debate between those who believe that mathematics is discovered, and those who believe that it is invented. The video provides examples of how mathematics has been used to solve problems in the real world.
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And over the centuries, mathematicians have devised hundreds of different techniques capable of proving the theorem. In short, maths is both invented and discovered.
There is still some debate among philosophers of mathematics about whether mathematics was invented or discovered. Some believe that mathematics exists within us, and that the objects of mathematics were therefore our creation. However, mathematics was almost entirely discovered, with few exceptions of inventions based on its discovery. The language of maths was totally discovered by man.
Some things was invented, somethings were discovered. Math can be described as inventing abstract systems of symbol manipulation and then discovering their properties. For example natural numbers were invented and then prime numbers was discovered. That some numbers are prime is a property of natural numbers, that somebody had to discover. When natural numbers were invented nobody decided that they wanted some of them to be prime and some not. It just followed from the definition, and the definition was constructed so as to enable us to count stuff.
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Maths is a product of the conscious mind: both a tool and a language used to make sense of the designs and functions of our universe – quenching humans’ instinctual thirst for rationalisation.