Mathematics And Mathematics

Topic 2

Mathematics is the science of numbers and their operations, interrelations, combinations, generalizations, abstractions and of space configurations and their structure, measurement, transformation, and generalizations (Merriam-Webster, 2016). Mathematics is inextricably linked to science in that it plays a pivotal role in the unification, verification and exploration in science.

Mathematics is a simple language of combined scientific facts. In the medieval period, Greek philosopher Aristotle concluded that the cause of motion is due to the nature of objects (Lindberg par.17). Additionally, the world is divided into celestial and terrestrial regions, which adhere to different systems (Lindberg par.25). Soon, Newton developed a more convincing

If science is based on sense experience (Lindberg par.10), human beings may easily be deceived by illusions and steered away from the true reality. In the cave where the prisoners have never reached out to the real world (Plato par.1), the shadows of the artifacts cast on the walls were perceived as the real objects talking to the prisoners (Plato par.7). It is actually an analogy to human beings. What they see in the sensible world may not be real. Exploring the nature only through mere observation can result in various ambiguities. In contrast, mathematics is a logical thinking process through which sense experience can be analyzed. For example, instead of concluding that the speed of falling objects is proportional to their weights as normally observed, Newton provided a logical explanation in terms of mathematics (Cohen par.14). Eventually, it has been proved that differences in the speed of falling objects is regardless of their weights, and any objects of unequal weights on earth, in fact, fall at the same speed in a vacuum condition (Cohen par.17). The example has illustrated that by the exercise of reason through mathematics, we can be closer to the true reality. Therefore, mathematics can guide people to reality through deductive

Mathematics is so strong since it is presented in “impressive rigor” (Dunham par.3). The well-known mathematician Euclid demonstrated his mathematical propositions by providing reasons for every step based on the postulates or common notions (Euclid 275-290). The connection between each step of mathematical calculations is irrefutable. Even one endeavors to find any mistakes from his postulates, it is virtually impossible to observe one. As a result, mathematics is actually a self-defense concept which possibly nobody can refute. Since mathematics is constructed by each previous step, the rigor that they employed guarantees the accuracy of the final result. With so strong the linkage between steps, mathematics renders convincing deduction to support science as