Quote:
Originally Posted by raherakty
Well, as you said, math is an invention of man. We've created the rules and the sets of numbers that go along with it. There's no reason why you couldn't create a number system without a zero, if that's what you wanted to do. However, a number system that does not have a zero isn't going to be of much use in today's world. How will you express the numerical value of an empty bank account? The velocity, in meters per second, of a stationary object? The number of apples remaining at your store if you start with five and sell five? From a verbal perspective, you could write a verbal response: no money, no velocity, no apples. From a mathematical perspective, the number system is now broken, because you cannot represent the answer of five minus five in numbers anymore. As I said above, you can find weird ways around having a zero, but then doing relatively simple things like solving quadratic equations becomes hopelessly complex as you bend over backwards to try to avoid having a number with no numerical value.
We've all come to accept the simplification of mathematics that comes along with having a zero, while brushing aside questions like "how can you have zero of something?" Now, whether it makes sense to say something along the lines of "I have zero apples," that's a question for the philosophers, as Rythm pointed out above.
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Alright, I agree with you that it should be moved to the S&P Forum [I'll ask a mod], and I will still say that true simplification of what the essence of Value is comes from eliminating zero as a "number". You are right that math would essentially cease to exist. Our world is the way it is because we use math to determine reality. Our brain thinks mathematically now, ever since math has become a staple of society, 0 being introduced around 700 AD. We accept and see (thanks to our five senses and their integration module) separation of objects, and understand individuality. But before math existed for banking, there's no reason the ordinary mind would have considered it or counting.
I was happy that you understood the gist of what I've been really trying to get at, whether you agree with my prognosis or not. haha
And, by this logic, if we can discard mathematics as a fundamental basis for understanding reality, we can truly begin to intuitively understand it. I'm saying that mathematical thinking is a limitation to understanding the true essence of reality. Definitely getting philosophical here... move this thing...