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-----Original Message----- From: CMR [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 12:50 PM To: Joao Leao Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Fw: Something for Platonists 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!)" > ------------------------------------------------------- > > > >
