[FOM] Pure mathematics and humanity's collective curiosity

[Alex Blum]

Feng Ye wrote:

>  
>
>...........does mathematics describe a mind-independent domain of reality?
>The idea is that sciences do describe a mind-independent reality (i.e. this
>universe), and since mathematics is an integral part of sciences, successes
>of mathematical applications in sciences provide reasons for believing that
>mathematics does so as well. 
>
     It is not clear in what sense mathematics can be an integral part 
of science. For if it provides only its language and imbedded logic then 
its function in science is only one of felicity of expression; but then 
in principle mathematics is no different from that of any well developed 
language. And surely mathematics does not provide scientific truths.

Alex Blum