Is Math a Feature of the Universe or a Feature of Human Creation? | Idea Channel | PBS

Math is invisible. Unlike physics, chemistry, and biology we can’t see it, smell it, or even directly observe it in the universe. And so that has made a lot of really smart people ask, does it actually even EXIST?!?! Similar to the tree falling in the forest, there are people who believe that if no person existed to count, math wouldn’t be around . .at ALL!!!! But is this true? Do we live in a mathless universe? Or if math is a real entity that exists, are there formulas and mathematical concepts out there in the universe that are undiscovered? Or is it all fiction? Whew!! So many questions, so many theories… watch the episode and let us know what you think!

All Time 10 Videos:

Veritasium – http://www.youtube.com/1veritasium (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JGSqG8OLjE)
Fast, Furious & Funny – http://www.youtube.com/fastfuriousandfunny (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWxub2XhmXM)
The Brain Scoop – http://www.youtube.com/thebrainscoop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNuu0y6ZmAs)
ASAPScience – http://www.youtube.com/AsapSCIENCE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgxJhpLoFFU)
The Royal Institute of Great Britain – http://www.youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm02Oid8sbs)
The Spangler Effect – http://www.youtube.com/TheSpanglerEffect (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fQ4uB-At-c)
Minute Physics – http://www.youtube.com/minutephysics (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yHDeKFW8j8)
Head Squeeze – http://www.youtube.com/HeadsqueezeTV (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPBJX1SW7AA)
Vsauce – http://www.youtube.com/Vsauce (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L45Q1_psDqk)

Episode Links:

Weezy Waiter’s “The Good Stuff”
http://www.youtube.com/TheGoodStuff

Awesome Math photos from Nikki Graziano
http://nikkigraziano.com/index.php/project/found-functions/

Further Reading for the “Online/Offline” Episode:
Nathan Jurgenson:
http://thenewinquiry.com/author/nathanjurgenson/
http://thesocietypages.org/cyborgology/2011/09/13/digital-dualism-and-the-fallacy-of-web-objectivity/

EA and Guns Article
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/05/no-ea-wont-license-guns-in-its-2013-games-but-it-never-has/

Sources:
Eugene Wigner
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~matc/MathDrama/reading/Wigner.html

Velocity of an Unladen Swallow
http://style.org/unladenswallow/

Alain Badiou
Briefings on Existence

Lakoff / Nunez
Where Does Math Comes From?

Mark Colyvan
An Introduction to the Philosophy of Mathematics

Tweet of the Week:

@mikerugnetta History of games genre maps to the self-actualisation of gaming community over 40yrs? Idea @stegrainer: http://t.co/2hCbvKySNf

— Wendy (@startmyquest) May 29, 2013

Music:
“Europe” by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
“Carry on Carillon” by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
“Bouncy Castle” by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
“:P” by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
Level 5: Room for the Homeless
http://www.jamendo.com/en/list/a101325/level-5
Binarpilot
http://www.jamendo.com/en/track/661417/geeks
Clockwork – Titan (geometry remix)
https://soundcloud.com/wompworthy/clockwork-titan-geometry-remix

Let us know what sorts of crazy ideas you have, about this episode and otherwise:
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Hosted by Mike Rugnetta (@mikerugnetta)
Made by Kornhaber Brown (http://www.kornhaberbrown.com)

Want some more Idea Channel?

Here’s Last Week’s episode: “Is Developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethical?” http://youtu.be/95KhuSbYJGE

Want another one? Here ya go: “Is Sad Music Actually Sad?” http://youtu.be/bWWYE4eLEfk

Here’s Some More: “Is Buying Call of Duty a Moral Choice?” http://youtu.be/jeIHH0XEs6E