PAULA H. COMBISTA I-BSCS 12-11-13
MATH1
“What is Mathematics Really?”
I also wonder like Reuben Hersh, the author of What is Mathematics Really?, about this called knowledge- mathematics. Through my entire life there is always mathematics, since my kindergarten years up until now and for sure still in the future. Its like there should be mathematics as part of our lives always stick around our backs. Though that question always wander in my head still I never seek for an answer or truth, everything I know so far is just handed over to me from my mathematics teacher and never appreciated even one. Even if I’ll seek I believe I will never come up with such an idea like Reuben Hersh.
I remember what Reuben said in the first part and I quoted “Our knowledge is objective and unchanging because its knowledge of objects external to us, independent to us which are indeed changeless.” meaning mathematics really is there wether we seek from it or leave it behind. I also remember him saying “Right because they are right.” same as students make their assignments sometimes we have different answers but after checking only one answer will justify the question or the particular problem and that answer is the one and only right answer.
There is part of the book when Reuben split the story of Pythagoras into two parallel streams- the Mainstream, and Humanists and Mavericks. The first one state that mathematics is superhuman and the second viewed mathematics as human activity, a human creation. For me these two thoughts approves in my opinion, it is true its superhuman just thinking how mathematics works our world and all this concept and idea is just beyond comprehension to an ordinary human being like me and as for being created by human I also agree in a way that I know the fact mathematics exist even without our consciousness but because of our curiosity about the world that until now we continue to strive hard and seek more to understand and discover more about this universe where we are living.
Every idea of Reuben Hersh are intense and just beyond words to appreciate but I would end this by a words in the book and I quoted “He can’t invent because everything is already there. He can only discover.”-Mathematics.
You're right. I keep asking myself questions, being curious about stuffs all the time. But I just stop there, I don't continue to find for answers due to some reasons (like laziness which is worst). hehe
ReplyDeleteI agree with the last statement. Mathematics was never invented it was just discovered, the laws behind mathematics were formulated by observing patterns and making generalizations so that it can be used and applied in the future as a reference. Nice reflections though :)
ReplyDeleteHersh had this 'undying love' for math.. i think that's what makes him different from us. lol. indeed, you are right. most people (including me) are contented with what's presented to them without bothering how it came to be. :D
ReplyDeleteYou said that, "...this concept and idea is just beyond comprehension for an ordinary human being like me..." I don't think that not being able to understand Hersh's concepts makes you "ordinary." He's no superhuman. He's just a person who zealously pursued his interest. You can do that as well, maybe in a different field, but it is possbile. :)
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