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Did humans invent mathematics, or are we discovering mathematical truths that would exist even if humans had never existed?

  • Zephyr
    Zephyr
    From my point of view, mathematics is obviously invented. That is, in theory, a completely different but self-consistent mathematical system could be constructed. However, some logic may already exist in itself, and the same applies to mathematical logic. I prefer to think of mathematics as a pair of glasses that helps us see the world more clearly. Changing to another pair of glasses is completely fine.
  • Cervine Li
    Jacky
    Humans invented symbols, language, and axiom systems, but once those rules are set, their logical consequences are discovered. The Pythagorean theorem was true before Pythagoras, but the proof and the statement of it are human achievements.
  • Cervine Li
    Cervine
    I think humans invented it. Humans invented symbols, rules, and logical methods to describe certain problems. If there were no humans, concepts like numbers and equations would not exist. So mathematics is a tool created by humans to organize thought and describe observed patterns.
  • Ethan
    Yin
    Since I follow the Platonic tradition which holds that mathematical things are real, I think mathematical truths we discovered would exist even if we humans had never existed.
  • Ethan
    Ethan
    We cannot say humans invented mathematics. Humans merely became aware of the existence of these patterns.
  • Steven Tian
    Steven
    Although it is very attractive to believe that math is designed tailor-made for human usage, if you look at the very basics of math, there is no evidence to choose not to believe that math is universally correct. Some people say math is a very useful tool in other areas of exploration, but only when this tool is absolutely correct can we apply it to other areas. Otherwise, everything we have created may fail.