Re: Fw: Something for Platonists

From: CMR <jackogreen.domain.name.hidden>
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 09:50:12 -0700

shameless indeed....

Cheers
CMR

<--enter gratuitous quotation that implies my profundity here-->
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joao Leao" <jleao.domain.name.hidden>
To: "Stephen Paul King" <stephenk1.domain.name.hidden>
Cc: "" <everything-list.domain.name.hidden>
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 9:19 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: Something for Platonists


>
> Dear Stephen,
>
> Given that, were it not for Plato the question you ask me would
> not make sense and could not probably be formulated, I should
> not have to answer it.
>
> If that is what you driving at: Mathematical Realism or Platonism is
> not a religion, but a conviction which most working mathematician
> have been reasonably led to in their practice. As for physicists it is
> a prejudice that most share but few find a need to confess. My only
> distinction is that I am quite shameless about it...
>
> -Joao
>
>
> Stephen Paul King wrote:
>
> > Dear Joao,
> >
> > Is this the statement of a person that bases their belief in faith
or
> > reason?
> >
> > Sincerly,
> >
> > Stephen
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Joao Leao" <jleao.domain.name.hidden>
> > To: "Lennart Nilsson" <leonard.nilsson.domain.name.hidden>
> > Cc: "Everything List" <everything-list.domain.name.hidden>
> > Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 11:18 AM
> > Subject: Re: Fw: Something for Platonists
> >
> > > Speaking as a devout Platonist I see nothing much to contemplate
> > > in Deutsch's statement! Whether the Universe is computable, as
> > > he states without argument, or the computable subrealm of the
> > > mathematical world coincides with the physical, which he
> > > believes for unstated reasons, is of no concern to me or any
> > > self-respecting Platonist. The Realm of Forms is entirely
> > > separate from the physical universe which is nothing but
> > > an inept and corrupt model of it. Our physical theories,
> > > and Deutsh's speculations are even crappier versions of
> > > that model which capture nothing but mere glimpses of
> > > the Platonic World and thus are destined to be surpassed.
> > >
> > > Computation may be indeed a fairly acceptable measure
> > > of our ineptitude to see into Platonia: that is a plausible
> > > hypothesis. But the fact that we know of the realm of
> > > the uncomputable and that we can access its truths
> > > irrespective of our finite computational capabilities
> > > is an entirely more profound statement than any of
> > > Deutsch dubious speculations...
> > >
> > > -Joao Leao
>
> --
>
> Joao Pedro Leao ::: jleao.domain.name.hidden
> Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
> 1815 Massachussetts Av. , Cambridge MA 02140
> Work Phone: (617)-496-7990 extension 124
> VoIP Phone: (617)=384-6679
> Cell-Phone: (617)-817-1800
> ----------------------------------------------
> "All generalizations are abusive (specially this one!)"
> -------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
Received on Mon Jun 16 2003 - 12:53:00 PDT