Vx. Princess "size_t queen" Grace 2d ago
No nuance. Choose.
Math is discovered.
61.9%
Math is invented.
38.1%
Poll ended at .
Show threadShadSterling

@BestGirlGrace
Math is two things:
- A set of notations for describing relationships;
- A set of techniques for reasoning about those relationships.

Many of the relationships we describe and reason about are discovered, as are relationships-between-relationships, but the notations and techniques are necessarily invented.

Apr 13 at 7:56amIceCubesApp
Show threadMark Whybird1d ago
@ShadSterling @BestGirlGrace I think Math is three things: the two you mentioned, and the relationships themselves. The relationships themselves, in my view, are discovered, and the language invented, and the techniques in between are a mostly invented but heavily intertwined with the discovered relationships (to the point where a few of the techniques are merely expressions of the relationships, and therefore those few might count as “discovered”.)
Show threadMark Whybird1d ago

@ShadSterling @BestGirlGrace A simple example: the Pythagorean theorem itself is a fundamental fact (i.e. discovered); the way we express it and prove it (or not), and the way we use it to calculate things, is entirely up to us (i.e. invented). The underlying logic of those calculations, however, are intrinsic parts of the fundamental fact (i.e. discovered).

All three things mentioned (the relationship itself, the language of expression, and the surrounding techniques) can definitely all be called parts of math. The either/or of the question has been useful because it has been very successful in achieving some really good discussion, but as a logical argument it is a false dichotomy. The actual answer is “both”.