Does God Make Mathematics Essay Example

ancient Greece, when scientific thinking was emerging, religion held a significant influence over people. As a result, when faced with confusion regarding natural observations, individuals sought answers in religious myths.

People establish their religious beliefs based on myths, which feature gods (Segal; Ilin, 1983). Similarly to the holy books of some religions, myths also provide guidance on how to live life. According to Gi?? kberk (1985), these myths are unconsciously created by imaginative individuals, yet they are believed to have a connection to gods. The practical knowledge embedded in these myths is gained through people's exploration of nature. As a result, individuals can exert partial control over nature, as stated by Gi?? kberk.

Before the development of science, myths were used to answer questions about the origin of the universe and humanity's place within it. These myths were believed to be the words of Gods and were accepted without question. However, as the explanations provided by myths became less satisfactory, people began to critically analyze their observations and question the validity of religious beliefs. This led to a separation between what was considered true and what was not (Segal ; Ilin, 1983).

People began using their minds not only to acquire practical information for survival, but also to seek knowledge for its own sake. The Greeks were dissatisfied with the answers provided by their religion and thus sought to systematically gather information through questioning and observing their environment. According to Gi?? kberk (1985), they developed theories that were superior to mere practical results, leading to the emergence of science. The philosophers held crucial positions in ancient Greece, where the term "science" was first used, as they encompassed both

scientific and religious aspects.

In Eastern cultures, the role of prophets was to maintain communication between gods and humans. However, in ancient Greece, philosophers were also highly respected, although they did not hold religious importance like prophets (Hilav, 1975). It is important to note that being a philosopher alone does not confer religious significance. In fact, being a follower of a religion and a philosopher are contradictory, as religion requires belief without questioning while philosophy encourages inquiry (Segal & Ili??n, 1983).

When a person believes in something without questioning it, it suggests that they have no doubt about its truth. However, a philosopher challenges what they are told, their beliefs, and the information they receive. They seek the genuine facts and search for the principles that can give meaning to life (Hilav, 1975). A philosopher strives to live by these principles. During a time when the distinction between science and religion was not well-defined due to the early stages of scientific development, philosophers took on the responsibility of pursuing knowledge (Hilav, 1975).

The mission of helping people confused about the answers offered by religion regarding the events of nature, which are difficult to comprehend, held special importance. This search for information marked the initial step in the advancement of science (Katz, 1998). Humans sought answers to their questions and, in doing so, not only questioned existing myths but also endeavored to create alternative explanations. Philosophers resembled scientists as they pursued accurate information, yet they did not wholly reject the content of myths.

The term philosophy, meaning the love of wisdom, was first used by Pythagoras, according to one of his students, Heraclites (Katz, 1998). Pythagoras led a society

that was half religious and half scientific and operated under a rule of secrecy. He referred to himself as the lover of wisdom rather than as a wise man since, according to his religious beliefs, wisdom was a quality possessed by the gods. Additionally, Pythagoras believed that philosophers should constantly seek knowledge without hesitation. Ultimately, his goal was to uncover the truth.

Pythagoras, like the prophets of other nations, became a legendary figure over time (Katz, 1998). Within his Academia, he held a prominent position in a society that gathered to both learn and teach. According to his followers, his beliefs were similar to those of a religion. However, one cannot truly be considered a philosopher if they unquestionably accept the rules of a religion, as philosophy requires critical thinking. Therefore, the Pythagoreans, who claimed to be philosophers, contradicted this role by blindly accepting the Pythagorean order without questioning (Hilav, 1975).

According to their trial to reject the existence of irrationals and keeping it secret, we can deduce that Pythagoras assigned unique significance to numbers. In his belief system, he viewed things as numbers and considered the entire universe as a scale or a number. He attributed justice to one number, soul to another, and regarded mind as symbolized by yet another number. Recognizing the close relationship between harmony in music and number ratios, they perceived numbers as fundamental elements in all things. For Pythagoras, numbers were the primary essence of existence.

Pythagoras addressed the inquiry regarding cosmology, specifically the connection between numbers and materials, by proposing that numbers are interconnected with substances (James, 1997). The Pythagoreans partitioned numbers into two categories: finite and infinite. Furthermore, they classified

numbers into odd and even. They perceived these classifications within ten fundamental opposing pairs: odd-even, one-many, left-right, male-female, stable-unstable, direct-curved, light-dark, good-bad, and square-rectangle.

According to Segal & Ilin (1983), individuals had a dualistic perception of the world, believing in both infinite and finite, bad and good, and even and odd elements. Interestingly, they saw the number one as possessing characteristics of both evenness and oddness. They believed that these opposing elements coexisted harmoniously within the world. The universe was viewed as a harmonious arrangement of numbers, with matter's order determined by a numerical system. This concept is referred to as number mysticism. Some perspectives suggest that science and religion can intersect, with Pythagoras leading followers who wholeheartedly embraced his ideas akin to religious devotees rather than philosophers.

The individuals mentioned were not scientists, as there is a clear distinction between science and religion. Science involves questioning established theories and acknowledging the potential for them to be false, while religion refuses to alter any accepted truths (Segal;Ilin, 1983). Religion considers its principles to be absolute facts. However, despite the Pythagoreans' dedication to their beliefs and dismissal of conflicting information, their research and observations still contributed to the progress of science (James, 1997).

The Pythagoreans made significant contributions in various fields, including astronomy. A major breakthrough was their realization that the earth is not located at the center of the universe. They also held the belief that the earth is spherical and orbits a sphere composed of fire. According to Pythagoras, solar eclipses occur when the moon blocks sunlight.

Furthermore, the Pythagoreans proposed that stars emit a sound due to their high speed. The frequency of this sound directly correlates

with the distance between the star's core and the central flame. These observations led them to believe in a cosmic music that cannot be perceived by ordinary individuals.

These generalizations were based on studies conducted in music, mathematics, and astronomy (Katz, 1998).

According to Swetz (1994), Pythagoras was revered by his followers for his ability to uncover the secrets of the universe. This included discovering the special number ratios that exist when vibrating strings produce harmonious tones. Pythagoras also observed that these ratios could be applied to other musical instruments. He used music as a healing tool to assist the sick. In addition, Pythagoras established various unique rules for his followers, such as washing the left foot first and wearing the right shoe before the left. He also forbade the consumption of beans and meat, except for lamb (Segal ; llin, 1983).

Under the influence of Orphism, Pythagoras and his followers adopted the concept of cyclical rebirth. They believed in Dionysus, the wine god, and refrained from consuming meat because they thought humans might be reincarnated as animals. In order to break the cycle of rebirth, they sought to detach themselves from bodily desires. Religion served as a unifying force for the Pythagoreans, but science and music also played important roles. They aimed to base their rules and beliefs on empirical findings.

The Pythagoreans, despite their efforts to rely on mathematical principles, could not resist falling into stereotypes. For instance, they avoided consuming beans because beans are countable and did not sit in groups of four. However, they extended their mathematical principles and wholeheartedly embraced numbers as the foundation of existence. Their application of these rules to their own

lives was unquestioning as they firmly believed in their teacher.

According to Bunt (1988), the Pythagoreans adhered to the belief that questioning Pythagoras' ideas was not within their rights. Pythagoras himself claimed that his belief system was rooted in science.

Pythagoras's belief in the beauty of integer ratios and representing all things as ratios of integers was contradicted by the discovery of irrationals. This rendered his rules meaningless because irrational numbers cannot be expressed as a ratio of two integers. However, Pythagoras, driven by his conviction that everything can be conveyed through numbers, still aimed to show that the hypotenuse of an isosceles right-angled triangle could have a numerical length.

However, the hypotenuse of a square, which is the diagonal length and also serves as the hypotenuse of a triangle, is an irrational number. This irrationality contradicts the notion of unity. In order to conceal this fact, the Pythagoreans resorted to typical behavior seen in individuals who adhere to dogmas (Bunt, 1988). Such behavior directly conflicts with the inherent joy that scientists experience when discovering the unknown. As noted by Jones, scientific progress cannot be achieved if knowledge remains exclusive to a select few (Swetz, 1994). One of Pythagoras' followers exposed this reality. According to legend, Hippasus, who disclosed the secret of their brotherhood, received divine punishment for his actions.

God drowned him in the ocean (Bunt, 1988). Science and religion are the fundamental methods we employ to ascribe significance to our existence. The primary distinction lies in how they address any potential shifts in the knowledge they rely upon. Despite constructing their beliefs based on scientific principles, the Pythagoreans' endeavor to conceal this fact exemplifies the

superiority of religion over science. They lived in accordance with their religious doctrine and opposed altering their way of life. In science, there are no indisputable truths.

Any information is valid when proven, but any logical disproof alters its validity. This is evident in the Pythagoreans' religious beliefs, which were initially based on scientific principles. However, their endeavor to conceal any changes in the reliability of their information reveals that religion took precedence over science for the Pythagoreans. Nevertheless, as demonstrated in this case, facts cannot remain hidden indefinitely. Despite individuals rejecting scientific information due to their religious ideologies, the only pathway to unraveling the mysteries of the universe is through reliance on science.

As time progresses, it becomes evident that existing beliefs alone are insufficient in accommodating the evolving lives of individuals in light of new information. The primary conflict between science and religion, particularly the rigid dogmatism inherent within religious institutions, continues to pose a threat to the prospects of numerous nations governed by religious mandates. Scientific advancements continually uncover truths about the universe, thereby disproving certain religious beliefs. Consequently, there are individuals who choose to dismiss scientific discoveries, fueling a dichotomy between those who reject and those who embrace science. This division presents a current and future source of challenges and complications.