The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unreasonable_Effectiveness_of_Mathematics_in_the_Natural_Sciences

by anateus • 15 years ago

6 2 15 years ago

en.wikipedia.org

anateus• 15 years ago

I'd have linked directly to the article only, but the Wikipedia page includes discussion and further references.

asymptotic• 15 years ago

Chapter 6 of "The Mind of God" by Paul Davies also addresses this topic (http://www.amazon.com/Mind-God-Scientific-Basis-Rational/dp/...). I read the book a long time ago but IIRC this was a particularly interesting chapter, as was Chapter 4 (Mathematics and Reality).

However, Davies book addresses a set of finer questions than the Wikipedia article. Rather than directly asking "Why can mathmatics be used to model nature?" the more probing question is "Why is there order of any sort to model in nature?". Indeed, in the preface of the book is this gem:

"If we do discover a complete theory, it should in time be understandable in broad principle by everyone, not just a few scientists. Then we shall all, philosophers, scientists, and just ordinary people, be able to take part in the discussion fo why it is that we and the universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason - for then we would truly know the mind of God."

-- Stephen Hawking, concluding passage of "A Brief History of Time".

A remarkable book, I recommend it.

The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences

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