"MATHEMATICS"
SCIENCE?ORRELIGION!
I submit, that the world of Mathematics is more of a religion, than a
science. Consider; in religion, much of what you cannot "see" or "measure"
you are asked to accept by faith. In Mathematics, much of what you "see"
and can "measure," you are asked to believe "does not exist." Example:
"A line has no width;" "A Point has no dimension;" "Infinity is Unbounded."
Many other facets of Mathematics falls into the same "religious" category.
Most religions have in common, a chief prophet; a priesthood, a means or
method of sacrifice, and a goal that reaches into the supernatural, and heresies. Judaism,
for example, offers Moses, the Levitical Priesthood, Animal sacrifice,
and eternity. Mathematics offers Euclid (Prophet), Mathematics Philosophers,(High Priests),
Students (Animal sacrifice), Infinity (Eternity), and heretics, (people who question).
Let's examine some of the accepted "fundamentals" of this "religion," called "Mathematics."
1. The basis of all Mathematics is "FAITH."
Axioms andPostulates are the "assumptions" upon
which all Mathematics rests. "Assumptions" are the articles of Faith, upon which the religion of
Mathematics builds its dogma. Postulate #2 is quoted in many textbooks,
as an article of Faith. Yet when applied, it is denied vehemetly. The Postulate states: "A straight line may be
drawn to any required length." I am given radius r, and line c whose "required length" is Pi times the diameter.
"Can't be done..." negating Postulate #2.
2. The three "impossible" problems of geometry for example:
"Each construction must remain in the Euclidean plane," and, "What was
demanded was in each case an exact construction by straight-edge and
compass used in the manner prescribed by Euclid..."
Excuse me.....Hippocrates of Chios offered two of the three "impossible"
problems approximately 440 B.C., Hippias offered the third, Trisection of the angle,
approximately 420 B.C., Euclid WASN'T BORN YET. How does this man rate
such influence, that he can set standards for Mathemeticians before he
was even born? I can understand how his discoveries would affect the
efforts made after his time..... but BEFORE his time??? I don't think
so.
This reminds me of those who attempt to hold Lot accountable to the standards of
the Law of Moses, or Christ, and say that Lot was a terrible man because he offered
his daughters to the lusting crowd, at Sodom. But Lot was not under the law of Moses,
nor was he a Christian. Those standards did not come into existence for centuries, and
Lot was not held to such standards. Paul tells us in Romans 5:13 that sin was not imputed
where there is no law. Lot may have "done the deed," but there was no law, thus
no sin imputed to him. And Peter called him a "righteous man." (2Pet 2:7-8)
3. The value of Pi can be calculated to infinity, and cannot be constructed
using straight-edge and compass.
Prior to this time, the Hebrew influence may have been significant, in the
understanding of the value of Pi. The books of the Hebrew Chronicles, I and II;
and Kings, I and II, written approximately 600 to about 550 B.C., in which
Pi was figured to an approximate value of three. I may have an explanation of the
understanding of "Pi and infinity," which would account for this.
It is possible that the "compass" of I Chronicles, relates to a thickness
of a wall, which interially, will have one measurement, exterially will have another,
but may be a ratio of three "average," measurement. This would be one
way to account for the value of Pi being understood as "three." A second
possibility is that they had no concept of Pi, but only of a relationship
between a circle and its diameter.
A third possibility: I believe there is a side of "infinity" which implies
being "bound." I call it "bound infinity." It deals with infinity which
functions within, or between, parameters. "Understanding
Infinity" and
More About Infinity explain an understanding of "Pi and Infinity,"
which could have been known anywhere in the world, Hebrew scholars
were present. (I Kings 7:23, and II Chronicles 4:2); And beyond this I
cannot assert anything. I am dealing only with Possibilities. But this
"possibility" has more in touch with reality than ascribing "Euclidean"
values to the problems.
Pi; An Article of Faith?
"How about a slice of Pi?" and
"More Pi, anyone?"
Last piece of Pi."
The "METHOD" by which one can determine the value of Pi to a very close tollerance, is depicted
in same manner as any "faith," because the imagination is called into play, and therefore it becomes
a matter of "faith"
4. A Point has no dimension, a Line has no "width," or "thickness."
Line Gage One;
Line Gage Two;
Line Gage Three;
Line Gage Four;
all deal with this problem.
If points have no dimension, how can they generate a line? When a line
is said to be drawn from "Point" A to "Point" B, is there an understanding
as to whether the line meets at the "inside," "middle," or "outside"
of the point? This becomes significant when drawing to a "press-fit."
And then, there is the cases of Heresy; those students who, upon rare occasion, dare to question
the high priests of modern Mathematics. Remember the "empty set" of "set theory?"
It was supposed to CONTAIN all sets which contained nothing? If it contains anything, how can it be empty?
Remember "infinity?" That term is used to cover everything that requires a home, but has no
parameters with which to build it one. Most often it should more correctly be labeled, "unlimited,"
or possibly "uncounted as yet." For instance, the method usually offered to find the circumference
of a circle, concerns itself with using straight-lined figures, expanding ever closer to the outer perimeter,
to infinity, as "unresolvable." What they fail to understand is, the circumference IS THE LOCATION
OF WHERE the "Infinity" lies with respect to that particular figure. The failure is in the use of
"straight-line" construction to attain curved-line goals.
To stipulate that the value of Pi is "infinite," makes an equal claim that we know its limitation.
"Infinity" CANNOT be used as a limitation, but the high priests of Mathematics will have us heretics
bound and sacrificed before admitting that such is the case.
DOUBLE THE VOLUME OF THE CUBE:
Firststep of construction.
Thenconstruction completed.
Perspective drawing of cubes.
Perspective in color.
SQUARE THE CIRCLE:
SchematicFor A Square Root
First Stepto Square a Circle.
Second Stepto square a Circle.
Third Stepto Square a Circle.
Fourth Stepto Square a Circle.
Squared Circle
TRISECT THE ANGLE:
Basic Layoutfor Trisection.
collapsed Altitudeshows next step.
Trisected Base Angleshows Trisection.
Trisected Apex Angleshows Complete Trisection.
None of the problems constructed above are limited by a "Euclidean Plane," none adhere to
some "out-there" philosophy of "infinity," and all depend upon "seeing"
the thickness, or "width" of the line. Keep the Faith.
� 1997 Theophilus Book