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Category Archives: Philosophy of Mathematics
Exploring the Limits of Physics
I’ve found a publisher for my book on philosophy and physics: World Scientific. 😀 The deadline for the first draft is December 2023, so I have some busy months ahead of me. As a ‘teaser’, here is the introduction to … Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy of Mathematics, Philosophy of Physics
Tagged book, Einstein, Fedde Benedictus, philosophy, physics, relativity
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Understanding the Quantum
My propoposal, “Quantum Theory Is Not As Strange As We Think (or is classical physics stranger than we think?)”, has been accepted by the organisers of the annual conference of the German Physics Society. I am proud of that! I … Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy of Mathematics, Philosophy of Physics
Tagged philosophy, physics, quantisation, quantum theory
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Lecture: Newton & Einstein – physics meets philosophy
This Wednesday I’m giving a “pub lecture”: the lecture is both public and in a pub. Drop by if you’re interested! Location: “proeflokaal Faas (Zwaanshals 248, Rotterdam)” (google maps) Attendance is free; no reservation required. Time: 20.00 It is a … Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy of Mathematics, Philosophy of Physics
Tagged Einstein, Newton, philosophy, physics
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Zeno the Zebra
Alice in Wonderland meets Zeno the Zebra for the first time. Short story by philosopher of mathematics. Continue reading
Posted in Numbers in Wonderland, Philosophy of Mathematics
Tagged alice in wonderland, minotaur
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Time in Physics – catchphrases and concepts
I’ve written a paper in which I put into perspective the media catchphrase “time does not exist”. Below you’ll find the introduction to my paper and a link to the whole thing. Enjoy! Many popular-science books state that time does … Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy of Mathematics, Philosophy of Physics
Tagged entropy, Newton, Probability, special relativity, time
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Irrational Happiness
When I started writing this blogpost a week ago, I wrote this: “When times are as difficult and unpredictable as they are today, I find comfort in mathematics. No matter how things turn out, how many more difficulties come our … Continue reading
What Does ‘=’ Mean?
It is often said that in mathematical equations, such as ‘2+2=4’, the symbol ‘=’ represents the fact that on both sides of the equation there is the same thing. That’s wrong: on the one side there are three symbols, while … Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy of Mathematics
2 Comments
Wikimedia2017 lezing – Feiten bestaan!?
Vragen aan het Publiek Steek uw hand omhoog als u denkt dat de uitdrukking klopt. ‘feiten bestaan niet’ ‘feiten kunnen waar of onwaar zijn’ ‘feiten kunnen waargebeurd zijn’ ‘een verhaal kan waargebeurd zijn’ Volgens de Nederlandse Van Dale is een … Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy of Mathematics, Philosophy of Physics
Tagged feiten, kennis, waarheid, werkelijkheid, wetenschap
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Do Mathematicians Discover or Create?
“Mathematical proof, according to the intuitionist, shouldn’t be based on the metaphysical assumption that the truth is in a sense ‘binary’ (that propositions must be either true or false).” Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy of Mathematics
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What Is Mathematics?
Mathematics is a language. More specifically, mathematics is the language that scientists use to organise and order observations. For example, physicists may describe falling stones in terms of mathematical concepts like parabolas and perfect spheres and sociologists describe their observations … Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy of Mathematics
Tagged formalism, game, intuitionism, language, mathematics, philosophy, physics, platonism
6 Comments