Mathematics is not only real, but it is the only reality.
Interpretation
Mathematics is a fundamental truth that underpins all aspects of reality.
This quote by Martin Gardner emphasizes the significance of mathematics as a discipline that reveals the true nature of reality. It suggests that mathematics is not merely a tool for calculations, but rather a universal language that describes the patterns and laws that govern the world around us, highlighting its vital role in understanding both the physical universe and abstract concepts.
In practice
In a lecture on the importance of mathematics in physics, one might refer to this quote to illustrate how core mathematical principles form the foundation of physical laws.
Politicians, real-estate agents, used-car salesmen, and advertising copy-writers are expected to stretch facts in self-serving directions, but scientists who falsify their results are regarded by their peers as committing an inexcusable crime. Yet the sad fact is that the history of science swarms with cases of outright fakery and instances of scientists who unconsciously distorted their work by seeing it through lenses of passionately held beliefs.
Debunking bad science should be constant obligation of the science community, even if it takes time away from serious research or seems to be a losing battle. One takes comfort from the fact there is no Gresham's laws in science. In the long run, good science drives out bad.
If all sentient beings in the universe disappeared, there would remain a sense in which mathematical objects and theorems would continue to exist even though there would be no one around to write or talk about them. Huge prime numbers would continue to be prime, even if no one had proved them prime.
In no other branch of mathematics is it so easy for experts to blunder as in probability theory.
There are, and always have been, destructive pseudo-scientific notions linked to race and religion; these are the most widespread and damaging. Hopefully, educated people can succeed in shedding light into these areas of prejudice and ignorance, for as Voltaire once said: "Men will commit atrocities as long as they believe absurdities."
Modern science should indeed arouse in all of us a humility before the immensity of the unexplored and a tolerance for crazy hypotheses.
Information overload refers to the notion that we're trying to take in more than the brain can handle.
Although this may seem a paradox, all exact science is dominated by the idea of approximation. When a man tells you that he knows the exact truth about anything, you are safe in inferring that he is an inexact man. Every careful measurement in science is always given with the probable error ... every observer admits that he is likely wrong, and knows about how much wrong he is likely to be.
While I'm a big fan of science fiction, especially as rendered in expensive Hollywood blockbusters, it's the real universe that calls to me.
Everything great in science and art is simple. What can be less complicated than the greatest discoveries of humanity - gravitation, the compass, the printing press, the steam engine, the electric telegraph?
The more one chases the quanta, the better they hide themselves.
We came all this way to explore the Moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.