View Full Version : The real numbers are a miracle
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos
25th November 2003, 02:41 PM
In a fit of analogical genius, today I realized that the real numbers are a miracle. The number line is full of gaps, yet whenever a number is found that fits in one of those gaps, two new gaps appear! There will always be gaps. As with evolution, this proves that the idea of a continuous number line is naturally impossible, and thus must be the result of miraculous intervention. Our increase in knowledge, resulting in an increase in gaps, is evidence that the real numbers are an act of god.
~~ Paul
hammegk
25th November 2003, 03:57 PM
A superficial swipe at a deep subject. Who did you say invented numbers? Can you suggest a situation where they do not exist?
I believe Geoff touched on this question a few times; to no avail of course. ;)
Why is this philosophical/religious topic in this thread?
jj
25th November 2003, 04:12 PM
Originally posted by hammegk
Why is this philosophical/religious topic in this thread?
Someone was playing a peano?
hammegk
25th November 2003, 04:55 PM
Is that just a postulate?
jj
25th November 2003, 04:57 PM
Originally posted by hammegk
Is that just a postulate?
Well, theorem pretty well established, wouldn't you say?
T'ai Chi
25th November 2003, 05:14 PM
Originally posted by jj
Someone was playing a peano?
Dedekind cut it out.
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos
25th November 2003, 05:49 PM
Hammy, my friend, take it easy. This is not a philosophical topic. This is a blatant swipe at the silly objections against evolution put forward by creationists and IDers.
Sheesh, sometimes things aren't meaningful.
~~ Paul
Eos of the Eons
25th November 2003, 07:37 PM
I think hammie is on a rampage :D
espritch
25th November 2003, 08:03 PM
I think hammie is on a rampage
Wouldn't that be a...hampage? :D :p
Eos of the Eons
25th November 2003, 08:06 PM
Originally posted by espritch
Wouldn't that be a...hampage? :D :p
ROFLMAO!
:dl:
Zep
25th November 2003, 08:38 PM
Paul, relax. And don't bother trying to continue the argument, because the concept would be utterly lost on the vast majority of creationists and ID'ers. Not that it is a bad argument, btw, it's just that it's...well...like trying to explain special relativity to cavemen???
You do recall Arthur C Clarke's idea: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" (or something very like that)? I suspect this is completely applicable in their case...
UnrepentantSinner
25th November 2003, 08:48 PM
You know this reminds me of dinner the other day. There were three of us we were trying to devide the pizza evenly. We kept slicing it in half, but were winding up with odd numbers of slices so we kept slicing and slicing and slicing.
Finally I took the pizza slicer and threated to slice one of my co-workers with it. He decided he suddenly wasn't hungry and we remaining two enjoyed many very thin slivers of pizza.
shemp
26th November 2003, 04:48 AM
Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
You know this reminds me of dinner the other day. There were three of us we were trying to devide the pizza evenly. We kept slicing it in half, but were winding up with odd numbers of slices so we kept slicing and slicing and slicing.
Finally I took the pizza slicer and threated to slice one of my co-workers with it. He decided he suddenly wasn't hungry and we remaining two enjoyed many very thin slivers of pizza.
This is known as the "Texas Method" of problem solving. Any math problem can be solved by applying threats of violence, or, if necessary, violence itself.
UnrepentantSinner
26th November 2003, 05:35 AM
Originally posted by shemp
This is known as the "Texas Method" of problem solving. Any math problem can be solved by applying threats of violence, or, if necessary, violence itself.
I'm sorry sir, but you are wrong.
Problems of biology, history and genetics/ancestry can by solved via said method as well.
Dragonrock
26th November 2003, 06:03 AM
Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
I'm sorry sir, but you are wrong.
Problems of biology, history and genetics/ancestry can by solved via said method as well.
Yeah, right, prove it.
MRC_Hans
27th November 2003, 06:42 AM
Originally posted by Dragonrock
Yeah, right, prove it. Sure! Just step a bit closer. Good! Now turn around, and bend over a bit................:D
Hans
shemp
27th November 2003, 07:33 AM
Originally posted by Dragonrock
Yeah, right, prove it.
I got yer proof fer ya, right 'ere!
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