12-24-2005, 02:11 AM
Pete,Dec 23 2005, 01:08 PM Wrote:I leave out 'theorem' because that is *not* a scientific concept, it is a mathematical one.
Does that quote say that mathematics is not a science? If mathematics is a science, then is it possible for something to be a mathematical concept, but not a scientific one?
A mathematical concept would be a concept that is "Of or relating to mathematics" (dictionary.com). A scientific concept would be a concept that is "Of, relating to, or employing the methodology of science"(dictionary.com). If mathematics is a science then a concept that relates to mathematics would be a concept that relates to a science. Does a concept that relates to a science relate to the methodology of science though? I suppose that a concept can relate to a science without having any relation to the methodology of science. So if one wanted to defend "theorem" as a scientific concept they would first have to define what the methodology of science is and then show that "theorem" relates to that instead of being able to just say that "theorem" relates to a science.
Anyway, I really was just wondering if you were saying that mathematics isn't a science. I have pretty much answered my own question in that saying something is mathematical, but not scientific in fact says nothing at all about mathematics as a science. So I guess there is no reason to post this since I answered myself, but I'm going to anyway just for the enjoyment of anybody who can get some enjoyment out of it. : )
P.S. After a preview and reading through my post again, I find myself wondering something. If "scientific" is "Of, relating to, or employing the methodology of science"(dictionary.com) then is there a word that means "Of or relating to a science" like I seem to have been wanting scientific to mean?