61. Every case of deriving an action from a command is the same kind of
thing as the written derivation of a result.
“I write the number ‘16’ here because
it says ‘x2’ there.”
It might appear that some causality was operating here, but that would
be a confusion between ‘reason’ and ‘cause’.
‘every case of deriving an action from a command is the same kind of
thing as the written derivation of a result’? –
this so called ‘deriving an action from a command’ –
a command is issued – and as to the action that follows –
that is a matter of interpretation – of description
and any written ‘derivation’ of a result – will be open to question –
open to interpretation
‘I write the number ‘16’ here because
it says ‘x2’ there’?
the ‘because’ – here – is a
result of mathematical theory –
and any review of the relevant theory will make clear that the concepts
involved here are like any other concepts in any other domain – open to
question
a concept of a proposal
the history of mathematics is a history of speculation –
and the power of mathematics stems from the power of uncertainty
‘it might appear that some causality was operating here, but that would
be a confusion between ‘reason’ and ‘cause’’?
neither cause or reason – is operating here
what we have is speculation and decision –
open to question – open to doubt
© greg t. charlton. 2014.