Author: joshwilkerson

Math in Process: An Introduction

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As I’ve mentioned here previously, this semester I was charged with composing a research paper on the topic of my choosing. My choice: the negative relationship between process theology and a distinctly Christian understanding of mathematics. In the next few posts I would like to share with you a condensed and un-academified (hey, I’m a mathematician not a…a…word…person) version of my paper. Today is the overview.

First of all, why is this important? The person largely credited with the development of process theology, at least as it is presently understood and practiced, is Alfred North Whitehead. Whitehead was also a mathematician. In fact, he was primarily a mathematician. The process philosophy that he put forward was driven by mathematical advances. So this raises the question to begin with: should our understanding of mathematics influence our understanding of God? Does there really exist a relationship between the two at all? Is the process view a viable option for Christian mathematicians?

I propose the answer to the last question is no. N – O – no. Negative. Nope. Nay. Not gonna happen. (That’s a pretty good list of synonyms for someone who isn’t a word person. I even had more, but I think you get the idea).

Here is how I plan to demonstrate this thesis:

  1. Give you a brief overview of process theology
  2. Give you a brief history on the relationship between process theology and the philosophy of mathematics
  3. Give you a brief critique on process theology, highlighting the modifications process theologians make to the Christian doctrines of Scripture, the Trinity, and Jesus Christ.
  4. Offer a guiding framework for how to approach mathematics from a Christian perspective

Should be fun.

…seriously.

Beauty and Math

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“The mathematician’s patterns, like the painter’s or the poet’s, must be beautiful; the ideas, like the colours or the words, must fit together in a harmonious way. Beauty is the first test: there is no permanent place in the world for ugly mathematics.”

– G.H. Hardy

Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,
O thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer
who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
and all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
than all the angels heaven can boast.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
now and forevermore be thine.

Fairest Lord Jesus, performed by Chris Rice

More to come on the relationship between beauty, faith, and mathematics…

Resources for Integrating Faith and Mathematics

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Well, it is coming down to the end of the spring semester. I am going to be quite busy over the next few weeks making sure I have all my work completed and turned in and that everything is set for graduation. So I don’t know how many posts I might get up before the middle of May. Here are a couple of articles to hold you over until then. If you read through these too quick and are left waiting for more, then check out the link on the top of page: “Resources for Integrating Faith and Mathematics.”

“The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences,” Eugene Wigner

Wigner observes that the mathematical structure of a physics theory often points the way to further advances in that theory and even to empirical predictions. He argues that this is not just a coincidence and therefore must reflect some larger and deeper truth about both mathematics and physics.

“On Christian Scholarship,” Alvin Plantinga

How should a Christian university and how should the Christian intellectual community think about scholarship and science? Should the kind of scholarship and science that go on at a Catholic university differ from the sort that goes on elsewhere? If so, in what way? Plantinga presents one sort of view–not with the thought that this is the whole and unvarnished truth, but as a contribution to our conversation.

“Advice to Christian Philosophers,” Alvin Plantinga

In each area of serious intellectual endeavor the fundamental and often unexpressed presuppositions that govern and direct the discipline are not religiously neutral; they are often antithetic to a Christian perspective. In these areas then it is up to Christians who practice the relevant discipline to develop the right Christian alternatives. Plantinga pursues this primarily from his own discipline of philosophy, but the ideas translate into all areas of scholarship.