A Question of Categories

[froborr]

Are mathematical statements positive or normative

Comments

[evil_egg]

Since most maths statements can only be proved empirically, I'm guessing they're positive.

[froborr]

I'm not sure what you mean when you say "most math statements can only be proved empirically." Can you elaborate?

[evil_egg]

Well, the demonstration I have in mind is holding a pencil (or other such object) in each hand and declaring that you have a certain amount of pencils in each hand, which for the sake of argument you dub "One". You then put both pencils in one hand and lo and behold, said hand is now holding a new amount of pencils, which you dub "Two". Therefore, one plus one is demonstrably two.

This is a very simplistic argument, I know, and doesn't really help with anything besides addition and subtraction (or any sum involving more pencils than you can actually hold), but it is irrefutable and is proven by the act of demonstration.

Admittedly, I might not have a clear idea of what "empirically" means, but at least the cogs are turning, right?

[pristis]

"Hobbits are typically between 4 and 5 feet tall