[FOM] Mathematics ***is*** formalising of our thought and intuition

[hendrik@topoi.pooq.com]

On Tue, Jun 01, 2010 at 03:27:07PM -0700, Robert Lindauer wrote:
> That there are not currently as-good political theories as there are
> mathematical theories is not essential to (either) science.  Surely
> political scientists -could- carry on their discipline without error
> just as any mathematician might by simply being very conservative.
> Surely mathematicians have carried out poor calculations and/or
> proceeded under false assumptions.
> 
> Surely it is the intention of every science to have error-free
> systematic understanding, this is not unique to mathematics.

Right.  But mathematics is the most important tool they use 
to achieve this when they do.  It seems to be a necessary tool, although 
it's not a sufficient one.

-- hendrik