Mathematics and Universal Truths

Paper Summary:

The paper argues that fundamental truths cannot be arrived at by math. The paper is of the opinion that this is insofar as the questions we ask, the processes we use and the assumptions we make are shaped by environmental, biological and contextual factors that have little - if anything - to do with "rational" and purely objective thought. The paper places great emphasis upon the place of metaphor in the construction of mathematical thought.

From the Paper:

"The question of whether there are unquestionable truths in mathematics is indeed a puzzling one. This paper will examine the matter by looking a few readings from our class notes. As will soon become apparent, there is much doubt that mathematics leads irrevocably to universal truth; indeed, in the limited space available, this paper will suggest that, because so much of mathematics is metaphorical in nature, Euclidean mathematics and other "relational" branches of math may lead us into the realm of creative metaphor and no further. In fact, as Sawyer seems to suggest, mathematical "truth" - all truth - is essentially the product of cultural epistemology and ontology."

More papers on Mathematics and Universal Truths:

• Analytical Essay # 84564 : "Universal Truths in Math"
• Essay # 32623 : " Epistemology and Foundationalism"
• Book Review # 9461 : "Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy" by Rene Descartes"

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