"Not a good test taker..."- I don't understand.

112358
Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:26:49 +0000

Is the fact that one and one make two really based on induction? I’ve always considered it a self-evident proposition. Our minds can’t conceive of it being otherwise, so we automatically accept it as truth. It’s not like we can really see it happen in the world, anyway – if I put two identical objects side by side they are still separate; they don’t suddenly become “two” – numbers are mental concepts.

As a side note, one other source of knowledge we haven’t even brought into the discussion is knowledge based on authority… the vast majority of the things we accept as fact are based on our belief in the authority of the person telling us. I really can’t prove to you that China exists; I just accept it because people I trust have told me. Of course, their knowledge is based on either induction or deduction, but it is important to realize how much of what we know comes from the authority of others.



Mathematical induction is deductive and is not flawed if done correctly (wow, you don’t see a contradiction and a tautology in the same sentence every day).



I’m not sure what this means, but it’s hilarious.