philosophy through mathematics
Modern philosophy in Europe
Professor Sjursen
Assigned: 3/15/2011
Due: 5/18/2011
Philosophy through Mathematics For centuries mathematics has been the bases to almost everything we do. Whether we are dealing with complex physics or modern medicine, without mathematics almost nothing we have now would be possible. Mathematics is a broad topic that can be broken down into many different categories. Most people limit their mathematics to just basic arithmetic and some geometry but the world of mathematics can be expanded to be so much more. The world of mathematics includes more than just simple arithmetic and geometry. As you progress in the world of mathematics you encounter algebra, calculus, complex mathematics, and then eventually the analysis of mathematics which include both real and complex world and even number theory. These various math forms can be used in all sorts of scientific discoveries in physics, chemistry, engineering and many other fields of science and technology; however, what many people overlook is the importance of mathematics in the world of philosophy. Before we can begin on our discussion on the impact mathematics has had in the world of philosophy we must understand a few things first. The first thing we need to look at is the philosophers we are going to use to see the important of math in philosophy. The first philosopher we will use is Descartes, who is a rationalist and uses mathematics to prove his own existence. The second philosopher we will be using is Leibniz, who is also a rationalist and using mathematics as a basis of all his philosophical theories. The last person we will be using was not a philosopher, but a pure mathematician. His name is Euler, and though he did not use his mathematic discoveries for philosophy his discoveries brought about so many different philosophical possibilities. We will use Euler, but not to the extent in which we use the other two, because the broadness of the topic
Professor Sjursen
Assigned: 3/15/2011
Due: 5/18/2011
Philosophy through Mathematics For centuries mathematics has been the bases to almost everything we do. Whether we are dealing with complex physics or modern medicine, without mathematics almost nothing we have now would be possible. Mathematics is a broad topic that can be broken down into many different categories. Most people limit their mathematics to just basic arithmetic and some geometry but the world of mathematics can be expanded to be so much more. The world of mathematics includes more than just simple arithmetic and geometry. As you progress in the world of mathematics you encounter algebra, calculus, complex mathematics, and then eventually the analysis of mathematics which include both real and complex world and even number theory. These various math forms can be used in all sorts of scientific discoveries in physics, chemistry, engineering and many other fields of science and technology; however, what many people overlook is the importance of mathematics in the world of philosophy. Before we can begin on our discussion on the impact mathematics has had in the world of philosophy we must understand a few things first. The first thing we need to look at is the philosophers we are going to use to see the important of math in philosophy. The first philosopher we will use is Descartes, who is a rationalist and uses mathematics to prove his own existence. The second philosopher we will be using is Leibniz, who is also a rationalist and using mathematics as a basis of all his philosophical theories. The last person we will be using was not a philosopher, but a pure mathematician. His name is Euler, and though he did not use his mathematic discoveries for philosophy his discoveries brought about so many different philosophical possibilities. We will use Euler, but not to the extent in which we use the other two, because the broadness of the topic
Bibliography: The Rationalist Rene Descartes- Discourse of Methods & Meditation Gottfried Leibniz- Monadology & Discourse on Metaphysics Impact Definition, Web definition, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/impact Philosophy of Mathematics, Leon Hortsten, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/philosophy-mathematics/