Negative Numbers : Philosophy Forums

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Negative Numbers

Samuel Locke
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Posted 10/22/09 - 09:48 AM: Subject: Negative Numbers	#1
Math for the most part is quite logical. One thing I fail to understand is how negative numbers fit with this sentiment. Zero is considered the epitome of nothing. So how can there be less than nothing?

To Mega Therion
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Posted 10/22/09 - 10:01 AM:	#2
What, you've never had a negative balance on your account? I envy you... No, really, you can easily define the binary relation 'is greater than' to include negative numbers, and you have need of these since they are convenient in our description of the world. I don't see the problem with them.

Banno
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Posted 10/22/09 - 12:10 PM:	#3
What do you think of irrational numbers?
Davidson: We make maximum sense of the words and thoughts of others when we interpret in a way that optimizes agreement. Russel Morris: There's a meaning there, but the meaning there doesn't really mean a thing... Ned: Such is life

James S Saint
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Posted 10/22/09 - 12:36 PM:	#4
Negative numbers can be more rationally thought of as directional rather than quantitative.But even as quantities, they express something missing from a potential (e.g. "The crate is -3 eggs [from being full]").

ragus
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Posted 10/22/09 - 12:45 PM:	#5
Samuel Locke wrote So how can there be less than nothing? Maybe you were thinking how can there be a value of a speed (for example) that's less than zero? My answer is that there can't be. However, negative numbers are not less than nothing in that way. Draw a line and put a zero on it. To the right of the zero are positive numbers and to the left are negative numbers. The negative/positive attribute is an indicator of position wrt to zero - left or right of it. This could just as well be represented by two colours (as the Chinese did using red and black). Banno wrote What do you think of irrational numbers? They have my sumpathy.
"A word in your ear is like an untethered goat in a field" Wittigenstein

Banno
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Posted 10/22/09 - 12:46 PM:	#6
Nothing causes so much philosophical discontent. I suggest we do away with nothing.
Davidson: We make maximum sense of the words and thoughts of others when we interpret in a way that optimizes agreement. Russel Morris: There's a meaning there, but the meaning there doesn't really mean a thing... Ned: Such is life

ragus
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Posted 10/22/09 - 01:03 PM:	#7
Banno wrote Nothing causes so much philosophical discontent. I suggest we do away with nothing. A moody silence of suitable duration should ensue on behalf of the hearer if someone were to use that word thus establishing a sort of linguistic black-hole.
"A word in your ear is like an untethered goat in a field" Wittigenstein

Banno
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Posted 10/22/09 - 01:16 PM:	#8
....
Davidson: We make maximum sense of the words and thoughts of others when we interpret in a way that optimizes agreement. Russel Morris: There's a meaning there, but the meaning there doesn't really mean a thing... Ned: Such is life

ragus
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Posted 10/22/09 - 01:24 PM:	#9
That's fairly silent but I think the essential moodiness is not obvious. You could be accused of pondering.
"A word in your ear is like an untethered goat in a field" Wittigenstein

Banno
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Posted 10/22/09 - 01:33 PM:	#10
?
Davidson: We make maximum sense of the words and thoughts of others when we interpret in a way that optimizes agreement. Russel Morris: There's a meaning there, but the meaning there doesn't really mean a thing... Ned: Such is life

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