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

Quote:

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

Quote:

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

Quote:

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

espritch · 25th November 2003, 08:03 PM

Quote:

I think hammie is on a rampage

Wouldn't that be a...hampage?

Eos of the Eons · 25th November 2003, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by espritch

Wouldn't that be a...hampage?

ROFLMAO!

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

Quote:

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

Quote:

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

Quote:

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

Quote:

Originally posted by Dragonrock

Yeah, right, prove it.

Sure! Just step a bit closer. Good! Now turn around, and bend over a bit................

Hans

shemp · 27th November 2003, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dragonrock

Yeah, right, prove it.

I got yer proof fer ya, right 'ere!

25th November 2003, 02:41 PM	#1
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Nap, interrupted. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: a little toolshed Posts: 18,592	The real numbers are a miracle 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
	__________________ Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ---Susan Ertz RIP Mr. Skinny

25th November 2003, 03:57 PM	#2
hammegk Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 8,422	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?
hammegk Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 8,422

25th November 2003, 04:12 PM	#3
jj grumpy old skeptic Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Deep in the rain Posts: 18,520	Quote: Originally posted by hammegk Why is this philosophical/religious topic in this thread? Someone was playing a peano?
	__________________ The Power to Quit

25th November 2003, 04:55 PM	#4
hammegk Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 8,422	Is that just a postulate?
hammegk Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 8,422

25th November 2003, 04:57 PM	#5
jj grumpy old skeptic Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Deep in the rain Posts: 18,520	Quote: Originally posted by hammegk Is that just a postulate? Well, theorem pretty well established, wouldn't you say?
	__________________ The Power to Quit

25th November 2003, 05:14 PM	#6
T'ai Chi Penultimate Amazing Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 11,235	Quote: Originally posted by jj Someone was playing a peano? Dedekind cut it out.
	__________________ http://www.statisticool.com

25th November 2003, 05:49 PM	#7
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Nap, interrupted. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: a little toolshed Posts: 18,592	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
	__________________ Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ---Susan Ertz RIP Mr. Skinny

25th November 2003, 07:37 PM	#8
Eos of the Eons Mad Scientist Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Alberta Posts: 13,894	I think hammie is on a rampage
	__________________ Motion affecting a measuring device does not affect what is actually being measured, except to inaccurately measure it. the immaterial world doesn't matter, cause it ain't matter-Jeff Corey my karma ran over my dogma-vbloke The Lateral Truth: An Apostate's Bible Stories by Rebecca Bradley, read it!

25th November 2003, 08:03 PM	#9
espritch Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,380	Quote: I think hammie is on a rampage Wouldn't that be a...hampage?
	__________________ "I'm the master of low expectations." - G. W. Bush

25th November 2003, 08:06 PM	#10
Eos of the Eons Mad Scientist Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Alberta Posts: 13,894	Quote: Originally posted by espritch Wouldn't that be a...hampage? ROFLMAO!
	__________________ Motion affecting a measuring device does not affect what is actually being measured, except to inaccurately measure it. the immaterial world doesn't matter, cause it ain't matter-Jeff Corey my karma ran over my dogma-vbloke The Lateral Truth: An Apostate's Bible Stories by Rebecca Bradley, read it!

25th November 2003, 08:38 PM	#11
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985	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...
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985

25th November 2003, 08:48 PM	#12
UnrepentantSinner A post by Alan Smithee Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: USAian is not a word Posts: 26,361	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.
	__________________ I am an American citizen who is part of American society and briefly served in the American armed forces. I use American dollars and pay taxes that support the American government. And yes, despite the editorial decison to change American politics to the nonsensical "USA politics" subforum, I follow and comment on American politics.

26th November 2003, 04:48 AM	#13
shemp Timothy, Timothy, where on earth did you go? Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: trapped in a cave-in with Joe Posts: 12,892	Quote: 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.
	__________________ Church on Sunday, sleep and nod Tryin' to duck the wrath of God Preacher's fillin' us with fright Tryin' to tell us what he thinks is right He really got to be some kind of nut (I can't use it!) Tryin' to make it real - compared to what?

26th November 2003, 05:35 AM	#14
UnrepentantSinner A post by Alan Smithee Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: USAian is not a word Posts: 26,361	Quote: 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.
	__________________ I am an American citizen who is part of American society and briefly served in the American armed forces. I use American dollars and pay taxes that support the American government. And yes, despite the editorial decison to change American politics to the nonsensical "USA politics" subforum, I follow and comment on American politics.

26th November 2003, 06:03 AM	#15
Dragonrock Militant Elvisian Tacoist Join Date: May 2002 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 9,856	Quote: 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.
	__________________ ...it rings a bell in my head that just don't chime...--pillory There is no God but the Great Taco In The Sky and Elvis is his prophet.

27th November 2003, 06:42 AM	#16
MRC_Hans Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Whithin earshot of the North Sea Posts: 16,602	Quote: Originally posted by Dragonrock Yeah, right, prove it. Sure! Just step a bit closer. Good! Now turn around, and bend over a bit................ Hans
	__________________ Don't. Just don't.

27th November 2003, 07:33 AM	#17
shemp Timothy, Timothy, where on earth did you go? Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: trapped in a cave-in with Joe Posts: 12,892	Quote: Originally posted by Dragonrock Yeah, right, prove it. I got yer proof fer ya, right 'ere!
	__________________ Church on Sunday, sleep and nod Tryin' to duck the wrath of God Preacher's fillin' us with fright Tryin' to tell us what he thinks is right He really got to be some kind of nut (I can't use it!) Tryin' to make it real - compared to what?