Modern Platonic Dialogue II: A mathematician and a knowledge anarchist talking…

Religion-Science Philosophy articles series

What Modern Platonic Dialogues are

Modern Platonic Dialogues (MPD) is an idea that attempts to revive the noble art of dialogue that Socrates and Plato exercised 2,500 years ago in the Agora in Athens, Greece. The aim is to present all different views for currently controversial issues via online dialogues in which everyone can participate.

Plato

Having a “live” dialogue can be much more productive and efficient than someone just writting an article with his/her views on a subject. Not all people agree on everything, not all people have the same “logic”. The point is not to try to persuade others that we have the correct logic, but to understand that our fellow-human arguments may be as “logical” as ours.

How to participate in an MPD

All Modern Platonic Dialogues are open via the Moderated Collaboration model. You can all send me your comments for a new dialogue! Comments are also welcomed in this page!

List of Modern Platonic Dialogues

The idea of MPD is new and dialogues are expected to increase in number exponentially in the ofllowing years. Please keep coming to this page for updates on what topics are currently under discusion. The Platonic dialogues that currently exist are listed in the following catalogue:

1. Modern Platonic Dialogue I: A theist, an atheist and an agnostic talking…

2. Modern Platonic Dialogue II: A mathematician and a knowledge anarchist talking… (in progress)

3. Modern Platonic Dialogue III: An intelligent cleric and an astronomer talking… (in progress)

Modern Platonic Dialogue II – A mathematician and a knowledge anarchist

Below stands a dialogue between a mathematician and a knowledge anarchist. It is still in progress.

Mathematician – Hi. I am a mathematician…

Knowledge Anarchist – What does this even mean?

Mathematician – That I strudy and practice mathematics.

Knowledge Anarchist – So there are specific things to study in mathematics?

Math – Of course! Mathematics is all about methods, theorems et cetera

KnAn – What about axioms?

Math – What do you mean?

KnAn – I mean, can there be an infinite number of theorems?

Math – Theoretically, yes. Why do you ask?

KnAn – Does this mean that anything can be proved? Or that there are countless things to be proven?

Math – I suppose the latter.

KnAn – But can’t you change the axioms you use any time you wish?

Math – Hmmm, yes you can. But this doesn’t mean that…

KnAn – That anarchy has found its way into mathematics? But if you can do that, then what’s there to “learn” ?

[to be continued]

Author: skakos

Spiros Kakos is a thinker located in Greece. He has been Chief Editor of Harmonia Philosophica since its inception. In the past he has worked as a senior technical advisor for many years. In his free time he develops software solutions and contributes to the open source community. He has also worked as a phD researcher in the Advanced Materials sector related to the PCB industry. He likes reading and writting, not only philosophy but also in general. He believes that science and religion are two sides of the same coin and is profoundly interested in Religion and Science philosophy. His philosophical work is mainly concentrated on an effort to free thinking of "logic" and reconcile all philosophical opinions under the umbrella of the "One" that Parmenides - one of the first thinkers - visualized. The "Harmonia Philosophica" articles program is the tool that will accomplish that. Life's purpose is to be defeated by greater things. And the most important things in life are illogical. We must fight the dogmatic belief in "logic" if we are to stay humans... Credo quia absurdum! View all posts by skakos