Math, God and the Problem of Evil (John Horgan)

https://johnhorgan.org/cross-check/math-...em-of-evil

EXCERPT: Distinguishing math from science, Radulovic proposes an analogy between nature and games like chess. Scientists are trying to discover the basic rules of the game within which we find ourselves.

Mathematicians, in contrast, are trying to discover all logically possible games, whether or not they correspond to our reality. The odds are against any given mathematical invention proving useful to scientists, and yet time and again they do. Radulovic excels at showing how seemingly esoteric, impractical inventions, such as imaginary numbers and non-Euclidian geometry, end up solving problems in physics and other fields.

“It almost seems as if some magic hand guided the ancient mathematicians” toward formulas that would help future scientists. Unlike burning bushes and parting seas, Radulovic says, mathematics is a “real miracle,” and “the book of mathematics is written by the very creator; no matter who or what that is.”

And yet Radulovic, like Wigner and Goldenfeld, implicitly undercuts the theism theory. He notes that mathematics is riddled with pitfalls and paradoxes, like Gödel’s proof about the limits of proof. Is God messing with us? (MORE - missing details)

(Aug 12, 2024 07:27 PM)C C Wrote: https://johnhorgan.org/cross-check/math-...em-of-evil

EXCERPT: Distinguishing math from science, Radulovic proposes an analogy between nature and games like chess. Scientists are trying to discover the basic rules of the game within which we find ourselves.

Mathematicians, in contrast, are trying to discover all logically possible games, whether or not they correspond to our reality. The odds are against any given mathematical invention proving useful to scientists, and yet time and again they do. Radulovic excels at showing how seemingly esoteric, impractical inventions, such as imaginary numbers and non-Euclidian geometry, end up solving problems in physics and other fields.

“It almost seems as if some magic hand guided the ancient mathematicians” toward formulas that would help future scientists. Unlike burning bushes and parting seas, Radulovic says, mathematics is a “real miracle,” and “the book of mathematics is written by the very creator; no matter who or what that is.”

And yet Radulovic, like Wigner and Goldenfeld, implicitly undercuts the theism theory. He notes that mathematics is riddled with pitfalls and paradoxes, like Gödel’s proof about the limits of proof. Is God messing with us? (MORE - missing details)

One might recall the old-time TV show with the famous saying, "The devil made me do it."

  The Problem of Evil

  Refer to the notion of the "selfish gene." That is a term Richard Dawkins is well known for.

Seeing how life feeds on life elicits a saying: The world is a hell hole and DNA is the devil.

The DNA molecule propagates itself by threatening it's victims, especially sentient ones.  Suffering and hardship are characteristics that underlie the default state of life.  Pleasure is largely relief from and/or the successful avoidance of suffering.  It too often comes at the expense of the suffering of other beings.

Luckily, life is not a zero-sum game.

Some people are lucky I guess.

People make their own luck. If only they could bring themselves to give up self-limiting beliefs.