Chris Menzel wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Sep 2008, Ed Barkmeyer wrote:
>> ...
>> As to the rest of John's posting, I refuse to be drawn into a
>> discussion of the power of either mathematics or logic. I am an
>> engineer.
>
> And you won't discuss it because, as an engineer, and hence as one
> familiar with bridges, moon shots, computers, the web, and the like that
> wouldn't exist but for the power of mathematics and logic, it isn't
> worth discussing something so obvious? Right on. (01)
Indeed. That power is well documented and in evidence. But whether
mathematics can correctly capture "reality", as distinct from how much
of the derived and quantified property called load it will take to
collapse the bridge, is not my concern. I marvel at the universe, I
seek to understand aspects of it, and I invent my own little artificial
contributions to it, but I don't ask whether mathematics is the model of
it. I leave that to John and Pat. ;-) (02)
-Ed (03)
--
Edward J. Barkmeyer Email: edbark@xxxxxxxx
National Institute of Standards & Technology
Manufacturing Systems Integration Division
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8263 Tel: +1 301-975-3528
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8263 FAX: +1 301-975-4694 (04)
"The opinions expressed above do not reflect consensus of NIST,
and have not been reviewed by any Government authority." (05)
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