Ask Me Anything: Adam

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May 16, 2022 6:00 pm
Adam says:
Phil_Ozzy_Fer says:
What would you like to see people have a greater appreciation of regarding maths?
Mathematics isn't about numbers. It's reasoning with rules. Sometimes the rules represent real things, sometimes they're purely abstract.

In short. It's a game.
Thats a great way of looking at it. Curious then, where do you draw the line between maths and logic?
May 17, 2022 5:05 am
Phil_Ozzy_Fer says:
Curious then, where do you draw the line between maths and logic?
I wouldn't. There's a branch of maths called mathematical logic, but maths comes from the philosophical branch of logic. I'm not sure any lines around the labels are helpful.

It's a shame that we seem to teach children that maths is a science. As though Pythagoras's theorem was proved by measuring a load of triangles, rather than the result of reasoned logical steps from a set of axioms.

Sure, maths is effective (unreasonably so) in solving science problems, but music, art, and the written word are useful for advertising. But anyone who thinks that music's purpose is to flog stuff has no soul. Mathematics is no more science than music is advertising.

Fundamentally, the processes of maths and logic are identical. At its core, maths is nothing more than a branch of philosophy - a branch that turned out to be really good at solving things.

I sometimes wonder whether we wouldn't live on a nicer planet if other branches of philosophy had been given the same chance as maths. A world where all children are taught epistemology (the study of truth and knowledge) and ethics alongside maths would be nice, eh?
May 17, 2022 5:21 am
And you think you'd be a bad mayor.
May 17, 2022 4:35 pm
Great analysis!

Also, teaching epistemology to children would be a nightmatre, albeit hilarious. Could you imagine if Hume invented school...

Adult: "You forgot to do your homework again."

Child: "Are you sure? How do you know I didn't already turn it in?"
May 17, 2022 5:19 pm
Lol. Yeah... maybe I need to think this through. Perhaps ethics before epistemology.
May 17, 2022 5:39 pm
What's one thing the average person could do that would make your job easier?
Which do you prefer; cyborgs, sentient robots, androids, or mecha?
What's your favorite movie based on a toy/toyline?
What's your favorite song about a real person?
May 17, 2022 5:56 pm
Adam says:
It's a shame that we seem to teach children that maths is a science.
Everyone knows maths is not science, it's sorcery!

https://media.springernature.com/w306/springer-static/cover/book/978-1-4899-6433-5.jpg
May 17, 2022 6:02 pm
What is a favorite tradition that may or may not be holiday based?
May 17, 2022 6:30 pm
crazybirdman says:
What's one thing the average person could do that would make your job easier?
Easy! Include URLs with their screenshots.
crazybirdman says:
Which do you prefer; cyborgs, sentient robots, androids, or mecha?
I like the idea of sapient robots. There again, once upon a time, I was naive enough to think the world wide web was a good idea. So I'd like these robots to have an off switch, please.
crazybirdman says:
What's your favorite movie based on a toy/toyline?
Scorsese's Casino?
crazybirdman says:
What's your favorite song about a real person?
God Save the Queen by the Sex Pistols.
May 17, 2022 6:38 pm
CherokeeWind says:
What is a favorite tradition that may or may not be holiday based?
When I was a nipper, one of my grandmothers taught me that when Jesus was on the cross there was a spider in the crown of thorns. That spider wove a web over our Lord's wounds to bring Him comfort in that dark hour. Because of this, if you kill a spider it will rain on Friday.

Sure, it's like some weird superstitions were thrown into a Catholic blender and poured into my young ears. But even now, if there's a spider in the house then I will carefully collect it up and put it outside. Unless it's a Friday and it's already raining, because then I will feck that spider up - it broke the deal.
May 19, 2022 5:19 pm
Quote:
When I was a nipper, one of my grandmothers taught me that when Jesus was on the cross there was a spider in the crown of thorns. That spider wove a web over our Lord's wounds to bring Him comfort in that dark hour. Because of this, if you kill a spider it will rain on Friday.
I'd never heard that one before!

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