shameless indeed.... Cheers CMR
<--enter gratuitous quotation that implies my profundity here--> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joao Leao" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Stephen Paul King" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: "" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 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" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: "Lennart Nilsson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Cc: "Everything List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > 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 ::: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 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!)" > ------------------------------------------------------- > > > >