We use maths every day, but have you ever wondered if it’s actually real?
This question has been circling inside my head for quite some time, and I thought I would take a deep dive and create an article about it. For this one, as this is not a conventional topic, I will create a different style of article, which is shorter and is more persuasive than just a factual/scenario based one. Read on if you want to be intrigued (or don’t — it means the same thing in quantum physics : )
To clarify, when I say real, I mean something materialistic and existing in the real world, not merely thoughts.
We have been using maths for centuries, even millennia, yet it is still one of the greatest mysteries we’ve ever faced in all of human history.
We use maths every day, but have you ever wondered if it’s actually real?
This question has been circling inside my head for quite some time, and I thought I would take a deep dive and create an article about it. For this one, as this is not a conventional topic, I will create a different style of article, which is shorter and is more persuasive than just a factual/scenario based one. Read on if you want to be intrigued (or don’t — it means the same thing in quantum physics : )
To clarify, when I say real, I mean something materialistic and existing in the real world, not merely thoughts.
We have been using maths for centuries, even millennia, yet it is still one of the greatest mysteries we’ve ever faced in all of human history.
Two Ancient Thinkers, Two Big Ideas
Aristotle (a Greek philosopher) believed that maths itself was not real, but was rather a way of explaining the patterns and laws that the universe sets for itself. However, Plato (another Greek philosopher) thought that maths existed even before humans did, and it is the numbers and shapes that make up the universe.
These are two different definitions of the word ‘maths’ and they both are correct in some way. I personally agree with Aristotle’s definition, but I can’t say that Plato isn’t convincing.
Aristotle (a Greek philosopher) believed that maths itself was not real, but was rather a way of explaining the patterns and laws that the universe sets for itself. However, Plato (another Greek philosopher) thought that maths existed even before humans did, and it is the numbers and shapes that make up the universe.
These are two different definitions of the word ‘maths’ and they both are correct in some way. I personally agree with Aristotle’s definition, but I can’t say that Plato isn’t convincing.
The Lost Instruction Manual of the Universe
Picture receiving a toy or computer as a gift, or perhaps you bought it for yourself. But disastrously, you somehow manage to lose the instruction manual. As you use the item for the first time, you go through the logical steps of discovering the features and learning how to operate the toy or computer. The thoughts you have, as you figure out how it works, form a kind of virtual instruction manual / map on how to use the object. This in itself does not exist in the conventional sense, but is neither incorrect nor fake.
These thoughts are the equivalent of maths in the real world. It is also simply a hidden instruction manual humans have created to help explain and understand how the world we live in functions.
Are Constants Constant?
The universe does not ‘make’ constants or even mathematical symbols, but instead, we create them, again, to help us understand the universe. The world does not ‘add,’ ‘subtract,’ ‘divide,’ or ‘multiply,’ or have any kind of numerical system. It just exists, with us, the inhabitants alone on a planet, trying to figure out some logic in the chaos of the cosmos.
To Be or Not To Be
If humans didn’t exist, would triangles (or other shapes) exist? Well, not entirely. Triangles are triangles because humans called them that. It would exist, but it wouldn’t be a ‘triangle’. This principle is the same with atoms. They would exist, but at the same time, the word ‘atom’ would not, meaning they wouldn’t be ‘atoms’. This would result in Schrödinger’s cat-style uncertainty problem (it wouldn’t be exactly the same—the Schrödinger’s cat problem would be closer to “Is the cat dead or alive even if we can’t see it?” In this question, it is more like “Is the cat still a cat if we aren’t there to see it?”).
Maths, Science and Religion - the hidden connections between these fields
Science and maths may not seem to be able to mix, but new beliefs suggest that, in fact, they have been intertwined for quite a long time. Many people started doing science in the belief that there must be some kind of logic if the world was created by God/Gods (under any name). Many famous scientists like Isaac Newton, Galileo Galilei (he got into a fight with the church, but remained a believer) and Nicolaus Copernicus (this is not a complete list). When people use the word ‘faith’, people usually think of a religion such as Christianity or Judaism. However, it has two different meanings. One is this ‘strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.’ and the other is ‘complete trust or confidence in someone or something.’ Even atheist or non-religious scientists have faith as they have faith in science.
So, Is Maths Real?
Ultimately, maths is a very useful tool humans have created in order to understand the universe. Yet, it does not exist in real life in a materialistic, atomic way. Life is full of puzzles and enigmas, most of which we will never solve despite how advanced our civilization is (and will be). We can always attempt, though, learning new things on the way! Comment down below on your opinion, and feel free to take part in the poll.
You surprised me again with an interesting, thought-provoking topic. I read your thoughts twice and it also made me think about what the situation really is with mathematics.
Is it natural that mathematics exists and if it already exists, it can exist from this time, let’s say that it came with creation. But man had to come to it, like other things, he had to come to it, like for example. that if he rubs stones together, then sparks are produced and he can gather fire, from this point on he could cook the meat of the animals he had killed and with the discovery of fire he could do more and more things.
Maybe mathematics was there in the same way as the stones. Everything was there, it just had to be discovered and given a name, like for example. to name the triangle, to call it a triangle, or to name the numbers and from then on they used it more and more widely, they gave names to more and more things and with this they can calculate more and more special things.
Interesting and very special explanation that you have started to deal with. Well done, keep it up.
I have thought a lot about your question and I think that mathematics is a reality