How could you prove 1+1=2?

[ledboots]

I was told it was so. It's by definition.

It means it's imaginary, that it doesn't exist. The thing which distinguishes mathematics from other non-physical things like, say, language or God, is that it's entirely logical.[/]

Unless you want to divide by zero, then the world flips out!

 

[Second Summer]

Unless you want to divide by zero, then the world flips out!

Yes, a bit strange that. The square root of negative numbers is a bit strange as well.

 

[Mr Crunchy]

 

[Blobbenstein]

It means it's imaginary, that it doesn't exist. The thing which distinguishes mathematics from other non-physical things like, say, language or God, is that it's entirely logical.

what is the difference between physical things, and non-physical things?

 

[Second Summer]

what is the difference between physical things, and non-physical things?

Physical things independently exist in the physical world. They obey the laws of nature. Generally, there is a way to observe them, and their characteristics / properties are usually universally agreed upon.

 

[Blobbenstein]

Physical things independently exist in the physical world. They obey the laws of nature. Generally, there is a way to observe them, and their characteristics / properties are usually universally agreed upon.

how does that compare with 'non-phyiscal' things?

Do they have some sort of existence independently from 'physical' things?

 

[Second Summer]

how does that compare with 'non-phyiscal' things?

Do they have some sort of existence independently from 'physical' things?

On this people disagree regarding God, ghosts and the supernatural. As for languages and formal sciences like mathematics and logic, their existences are dependent on the physical world, I suppose. Mathematical proofs don't exist as such, but their thruth value can perhaps still be said to be independent of the physical world ...

 

[Blobbenstein]

Mathematical proofs don't exist as such, but their thruth value can perhaps still be said to be independent of the physical world

but if their truth value exists independent of the physical world, then they do have some existence, which makes them physical in some way..

What I'm trying to say, is that if something exists, it exists, and that the only difference, between 'physical' and 'non-phyical', is how we can, or are able to, interact with these things.