Oddbean

Sure Planets, Stars and Galaxies exist within our field of view. We discover those with our eyes. Humans created “math” to represent the objects and behaviors of the world around us. The objects and behaviors themselves are discovered but math is the man-made language to model it and represent it.Math is the man-made language with man-made symbols we use to draw out conclusions from a set of axioms. The classical debate from your POV would be “Math is discovered, notation is invented.” But I find this silly as math without notation is not math.

. . . strains of a violin In the dimly lit alley behind the bustling city street, two unlikely companions found themselves engaged in a thought-provoking conversation. One was a homeless man named John, his weathered face marked by years of hardship, and the other was Ami, a young mathematics enthusiast who often found solace in the city's hidden corners. Ami had been drawn to the alley by the faint strains of a violin, and there she discovered John, an old man with a tattered coat and a makeshift cardboard shelter. "Beautiful night, isn't it?" Ami remarked, trying to break the ice. John glanced up from his violin, a surprising glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. "Aye, it is, miss. What brings you to this forgotten corner of the world?" "I suppose I was drawn by the music," Ami replied. "And also, I couldn't help but overhear your playing. You have a remarkable talent." John smiled, revealing a few missing teeth. "Thank you kindly, miss. Music's been my only friend for a long time." Ami nodded, her interest piqued. "You know, I've always wondered about something. Do you think mathematics was discovered or created?" John put down his violin and furrowed his brow, pondering the question. "That's an interesting thing to ponder, miss. I reckon it's a bit of both, in a way. You see, numbers and patterns have always existed in the world. The ancients, they looked at the stars and found order in the chaos. So, in a sense, they discovered the mathematical truths that were already there." Ami nodded in agreement. "I see what you mean. It's like uncovering the secrets of the universe." John continued, "But then again, miss, humans have also invented new mathematical concepts and structures to solve problems and make sense of things. We created algebra, calculus, and many other branches of mathematics to better understand the world around us. So, it's a bit of both discovery and creation, I suppose." Ami smiled, realizing the depth of John's wisdom. "You know, I never expected to have such a profound conversation in an alley. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me." John picked up his violin once more, his fingers caressing the strings with practiced care. "Life may lead us to unexpected places, miss, but wisdom can be found in the most unlikely of souls." As the haunting melody of John's violin filled the alley, Ami sat beside him, listening to the music and contemplating the timeless question of whether mathematics was discovered or created. In that fleeting moment, two very different worlds came together, united by the beauty of human curiosity and the pursuit of understanding. nostr:nevent1qqsvaqcaes0n7x3f8ax879smql7xyxn0nm3fhjekxjwe8f5yacmxeugpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfdupzq0kfwxzmxfgmg0n7htpdwgqj8k4p06anvs9c09jhcs0ygrd0lwyhqvzqqqqqqy4w75kw