Really BIG numbers...

quote:

Originally posted by Sniper:

quote:

Originally posted by mongo:
What's the title of your book Sniper?

I have already answered this question elsewhere. Try to keep up.

You have not answered any questions.

What is the name of your book Sniper?

May I refer the hon. gentleman to the answer I gave sometime ago.

What's the name of your book Sniper?

A few thoughts about mathematics.

In his magnum opus The Road to Reality Professor Roger Penrose, after the obligatory brief introductory description of how our bewildered ancestors conceived the functioning of the universe to be due to the activities of gods, tells us that they needed to:

…discover how to disentangle the true from the suppositional in mathematics. A procedure was required for telling whether a given mathematical assertion is or is not to be trusted as true.

Penrose’s basic viewpoint is that there is an ‘objective’ sphere of Platonic mathematical truth, a realm of logical and mathematical precision which ‘exists’ independently of individual human minds. He presents this pristine realm of crystalline mathematical certitude as an ideal sphere of perfect precision and his invocation of this ethereal mansion of mathematical rectitude is relentless:

It tells us to be careful to distinguish the precise mathematical entities from the approximations that we see around us in the world of physical things. Moreover, it provides us with the blueprint according to which science has proceeded ever since. Scientists will put forward models of the world … The models are deemed to be appropriate if they survive such rigorous examination and if, in addition, they are internally consistent structures. … The required precision demands that the model be a mathematical one, for otherwise one cannot be sure that these questions have well defined answers.

Penrose further suggests that there are three separate worlds, the physical, the mental and the platonic-mathematical. The actual interrelations between these three are that the physical gives rise to the mental, the mental somehow maps on to the platonic-mathematical and a portion of the platonic-mathematical somehow maps on the ‘physical’. The details of this set of relations are sketchy, but the important feature for our purposes is that the realm of mathematical precision is invested with a kind of pristine purity that accords it a special status as the primary ‘road to reality.’

This, of course, is the kind of picture that is relentlessly conveyed to students and intellectual consumers in general within our scientific culture. Mathematics is the razor sharp means of dissecting and analysing reality with a precision so accurate that every hinge and joint of reality is analysed and understood to an ultimate level of precision. Although actual physical reality has rough edges, so to speak, in essence, it is thought, or perhaps hoped, that the glittering, glinting and immaculate lineaments of the independent realm of mathematical truths fits over and illuminates the structures of actual reality with a precision that we can only gasp and wonder at.

However is this picture of the perfect miracle of the relationship between mathematics and reality a little overstated?

The mathematician Ian Stewart for instance tells us that:

After Gödel, mathematical truths turned out to be an illusion.

quote:

Originally posted by mongo:
What's the name of your book Sniper?

The title is 'Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results'. *

I'm thinking of adding a paragraph about you in the second edition.



* Attributed to Einstein

quote:

Originally posted by Sniper:

quote:

Originally posted by mongo:
What's the name of your book Sniper?

The title is 'Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results'. *

I'm thinking of adding a paragraph about you in the second edition.



* Attributed to Einstein

And the name of your book, Sniper?

quote:

Originally posted by mongo:

quote:

Originally posted by Sniper:

quote:

Originally posted by mongo:
What's the title of your book Sniper?

I have already answered this question elsewhere. Try to keep up.

You have not answered any questions.

What is the name of your book Sniper?

Hi Mongo,

Sniper answers lots of questions - just not the ones being asked. In the other thread, he has accused me of being an "arch obfuscater" (I suppose I should be grateful that he has placed me in the same category that he has placed Dawkins). However, it looks to me as if it is Sniper that is guilty of obfuscation by refusing to give a straight answer to a straight question. Maybe he is in training for a career in Politics?

In addition to the title of his book, maybe he could also tell us who the publisher is and what the ISBN number is so that we all can have the opportunity to share in his insight and wisdom.

Time for some Forum ASBOs, methinks.

quote:

After Gödel, mathematical truths turned out to be an illusion.

So actually 2 + 2 does not = 4 as we always knew it didn't. Perhaps it's meant to be 42?

Or, to me 2 + 2 has always been a pair of wellington boots, or a cigar, but perhaps here it should be a butterfly flapping its wings gently in a forest in Madagascar

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Lacey:
Time for some Forum ASBOs, methinks.

Mike,

Surely you can't mean me? I'm being nice!

If you want to see some really vitriolic, frankly libelous posts, just hop on over to "the other" thread and have a look at what's been written about me by a certain forum member.

I'm all in favour of forum ASBOs, we just need to be careful about who we dish them out to.

All the best,
Trev

PS - I'm all in favour of civility, and I'm quite prepared to leave this subject alone from now on because I do seem to upset certain people. This was not my original intention. However, I have been subject to a considerable amount of unwarranted personal abuse which I have simply been responding to.

trevp & mongo - I have given the requirements to you both. As I am a patient chap I will repeat them 1/ Read Quantum Enigma 2/ Make some (reasonably) intelligent comments to show you have understood it and I shall reveal all. If you do not read it and understand it you have no chance of understanding my book. This is the last time I will repeat myself.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve2701:

quote:

After Gödel, mathematical truths turned out to be an illusion.

So actually 2 + 2 does not = 4 as we always knew it didn't. Perhaps it's meant to be 42?

Or, to me 2 + 2 has always been a pair of wellington boots, or a cigar, but perhaps here it should be a butterfly flapping its wings gently in a forest in Madagascar

From Amazon:

Professor Ian Stewart is a world renowned populariser of mathematics. In 1995 he was awarded the Royal Society's Michael Faraday Medal for furthering the public understanding of science. He has been awarded the 1998 Communications Award of the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics in the USA, the 2000 Gold Medal of the Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications, and the 2002 Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology. He is the author of over 20 popular science and mathematics titles including Does God Play Dice?, Nature's Numbers (shortlisted for the 1996 Rhone-Poulenc Prize), Life's Other Secret and Flatterland, which was in the top 20 Bestseller List in the USA. Professor Stewart is the mathematics consultant for New Scientist, and has been a consultant for Encyclopaedia Britannica. From 1990 to 2001 he wrote the 'Mathematical Recreations' column in Scientific American. He is an active research mathematician with over 160 published papers and is currently Professor of Mathematics at Warwick University where he is Director of the Mathematics Awareness Centre. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2001.

<opens up a bag of popcorn, Schadenfreude flavoured....>

quote:

Originally posted by Sniper:
trevp & mongo - I have given the requirements to you both. As I am a patient chap I will repeat them 1/ Read Quantum Enigma 2/ Make some (reasonably) intelligent comments to show you have understood it and I shall reveal all. If you do not read it and understand it you have no chance of understanding my book. This is the last time I will repeat myself.

Hi Sniper

I don't really understand everything in War and Peace, but I read it and it enriched my life.

I'm not involved in the other thread but I am a bit confused. Let me just clarify; you have written a book. The title of that book is only to be revealed to those who have passed an intelligence test by making comments on another book as a sort of exhibition of worthiness. Does that not strike you as odd? It sure does me.

I accept you may wish to preserve your privacy, and I'd understand if you withheld the details for that reason. I'd accept feeling nervous about having your writing criticised in a public forum (but then, hey, why publish), but to state that you will only tell those you deem to be suitably intelligent seems really bizarre or rather arrogant. Sorry, that is how it reads. I'd also be wary of assumming anything about the intelligence (or otherwise) of forum contributors!.

I'm just curious. Have I misunderstood your post above?

Bruce

Curiously I have actually actually read 'The Quantum Enigma'! It sits on my bookshelf alongside a few similar books with which I occasionally wrestle.

I read "A Short History of Time" all the way through, does that count?

I gave up, but I can lift large weights and break things.

quote:

Originally posted by Sniper:
trevp & mongo - I have given the requirements to you both. As I am a patient chap I will repeat them 1/ Read Quantum Enigma 2/ Make some (reasonably) intelligent comments to show you have understood it and I shall reveal all. If you do not read it and understand it you have no chance of understanding my book. This is the last time I will repeat myself.

At least at the beginning you were interesting Sniper

There are only two 'requirements' needed to read a book;

The ability to read.

And;

A non imaginary book.

Sniper you're either a dweeb with a bizarre hobby (trolling) or an unbelievably conceited (and confused) man. In both cases somewhat divorced from the normal process of interaction with your own species.

It is not clear which from the nonsense of your postings, but in either case my previous advice still stands. Medical help as quick as you can mate, all the best of luck to you. You will need it.

Paul.

Sniper told us the name of the book ( books, actually ) on page two.

quote:

Originally posted by Sniper:

quote:

Originally posted by mongo:
What's the name of your book Sniper?

The title is 'Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results'. *

I'm thinking of adding a paragraph about you in the second edition.



* Attributed to Einstein

Is this to what you are referring? I think that's a red herring, or an attempt at some sort of put-down, don't you?

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Lacey:
Sniper told us the name of the book ( books, actually ) on page two.

Really? I'm just too dumb to find it, let alone read it. Having dipped into the murky waters of the thread you refer too I find a stack of qoutes from other people. Perhaps the fabled book is an anthology?

One thing appears certain, it sure is not going to be called "One Man's Battle With Self Doubt (and Quantum Reality)".

Sorry Sniper, I'm sure I'm now due a pasting from your good self for being so rude. I'll take it on the chin!

Bruce

quote:

Originally posted by Sniper:
From Amazon:

Professor Ian Stewart is a world renowned populariser of mathematics. In 1995 he was awarded the Royal Society's Michael Faraday Medal for furthering the public understanding of science. He has been awarded the 1998 Communications Award of the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics in the USA, the 2000 Gold Medal of the Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications, and the 2002 Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology. He is the author of over 20 popular science and mathematics titles including Does God Play Dice?, Nature's Numbers (shortlisted for the 1996 Rhone-Poulenc Prize), Life's Other Secret and Flatterland, which was in the top 20 Bestseller List in the USA. Professor Stewart is the mathematics consultant for New Scientist, and has been a consultant for Encyclopaedia Britannica. From 1990 to 2001 he wrote the 'Mathematical Recreations' column in Scientific American. He is an active research mathematician with over 160 published papers and is currently Professor of Mathematics at Warwick University where he is Director of the Mathematics Awareness Centre. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2001.

Here you go, Bruce. Page two of *this* thread.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Lacey:

quote:

Originally posted by Sniper:
From Amazon:

Professor Ian Stewart is a world renowned populariser of mathematics. In 1995 he was awarded the Royal Society's Michael Faraday Medal for furthering the public understanding of science. He has been awarded the 1998 Communications Award of the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics in the USA, the 2000 Gold Medal of the Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications, and the 2002 Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology. He is the author of over 20 popular science and mathematics titles including Does God Play Dice?, Nature's Numbers (shortlisted for the 1996 Rhone-Poulenc Prize), Life's Other Secret and Flatterland, which was in the top 20 Bestseller List in the USA. Professor Stewart is the mathematics consultant for New Scientist, and has been a consultant for Encyclopaedia Britannica. From 1990 to 2001 he wrote the 'Mathematical Recreations' column in Scientific American. He is an active research mathematician with over 160 published papers and is currently Professor of Mathematics at Warwick University where he is Director of the Mathematics Awareness Centre. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2001.

Here you go, Bruce. Page two of *this* thread.

Mike,

I don't think that this is anything to do with Sniper's book. Sniper is reproducing a brief biography of prof. Ian Stewart because he (Sniper) used a quote from one prof. Stewart's books.

We may soon acheive clarity of a sort. I have emailed Professor Stewart with the following:

"Dear Professor,

I would like to draw your attention to the following:

http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...385/m/5062950927/p/3

in which you may be being traduced by an impersonator calling himself "Sniper", claiming to be you."

You've done that?

Seriously?

Did you think to check with Naim?