David Deutsch's claim about "mathematicians' misconception"

[Lew Gordeew]

Zitat von Sam Sanders <sasander at me.com>:

>> Actually it's the other way around -- apparently the laws of  
>> physics are derived from earlier, abstract mathematical concepts of  
>> inference.
>
> That sounds a little exaggerated: what abstract concepts of  
> inference were at the basis of e.g. quantum mechanics or relativity?  
>  What concepts did Newton base himself on?

Well, consider Aristotle's syllogism BARBARA:

All objects fall down.
Apple is an object.
Therefore, Apple falls down.

Similar inferences are used in natural sciences while seeking for  
general laws in the material world. As well as in logic and  
mathematics (re: formulas) ever since ancient times, thus prior to  
Newton. Also note that many abstract mathematical objects are more  
sophisticated than "real" objects currently investigated in physics or  
elsewhere in natural sciences.