Читать книгу Limits of Science? - John E. Beerbower - Страница 50

Apart from the possibility that there may be many aspects of our world that do not follow the “logic of mathematics,” there are two other cautions I would suggest:

 First, the fact that mathematics does not provide actual causal explanations clearly indicates that there may be a more fundamental theory even of the laws of motion and matter.

 Second, where science becomes largely mathematics, with only few and tenuous contacts with observable phenomena, there is the risk that it is only an intellectual game that can create an artificial and erroneous belief that we know something when, in fact, we do not.

Thus, it would seem that we need to remain cautious and be ready to test empirically the applicability and accuracy of mathematical predictions continuously as advances in, extensions to or replacements of theories based upon mathematics are proposed. In other words, the assertion that “this is what the mathematics establishes” should be met with some skepticism: the assertion should be viewed as interesting, maybe insightful, but not dispositive.