The Physical Origin of Physically Useful Mathematics

Jesper Lützen

The Physical Origin of Physically Useful Mathematics

Bidragets oversatte titel: Den fysiske oprindelse til fysisk anvendelig matematik

Jesper Lützen

Institut for Matematiske Fag

10 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Der argumenteres for at anvendelser i fysik er afgørende i udviklingen af de dele af matematikken, som har været nyttig for beskrivelsen af den fysiske verden. Dermed kastes et nyt lys på Eugine Wigner's 50 år gamle artikel om The unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics. Der gives en række historiske eksempler på fysiks indflydelse på matematik. Derved sættes der spørgsmålstegn ved Wigners opfattelse af matematik som en struktur som udvikles udelukkende med æstetiske kriterier i tankerne.

Bidragets oversatte titel	Den fysiske oprindelse til fysisk anvendelig matematik
Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Interdisciplinary Science Reviews
Vol/bind	36
Udgave nummer	3
Sider (fra-til)	229-243
Antal sider	15
ISSN	0308-0188
Status	Udgivet - sep. 2011

Emneord

Det Natur- og Biovidenskabelige Fakultet
matematik, fysik, historie, filosofi, Wigner

Citationsformater

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abstract = "When Wigner claimed that the effectiveness of mathematics in the natural sciences was unreasonable it was due to a dogmatic formalist view of mathematics according to which higher mathematics is developed solely with a view to formal beauty. I shall argue that this philosophy is not in agreement with the actual practice of mathematics. Indeed, I shall briefly illustrate how physics has influenced the development of mathematics from antiquity up to the twentieth century. If this influence is taken into account, the effectiveness of mathematics is far more reasonable.",

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The Physical Origin of Physically Useful Mathematics

Abstract

Emneord

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Citationsformater