Essay on Theory of Knowledge: Approach on Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Published: 2021-08-02
1762 words
7 pages
15 min to read
letter-mark
B
letter
University/College: 
Middlebury College
Type of paper: 
Essay
This essay has been submitted by a student. This is not an example of the work written by our professional essay writers.

Mathematics and natural science are the most studied area of knowledge for several centuries now, both areas have played a significant role in the technological advancement, industrialization, and modernization of life. In order to get the focal understanding of the two areas of studies let us begin by defining them. According to Plato definition, the term mathematics refers to the abstract of the science of numbers, space as well as quality, either as theoretical concepts (pure mathematics) or as applied to additional fields such as engineering and physics (applied sciences) (Skemp and Gulley 165). Furthermore, he defined natural science as a branch of science that involves the physical world, such as biology, physics, Geology, and chemistry. Numbered format by authentic source does not mean that it's necessarily true (Skemp and Gulley 166). Both mathematics together with natural sciences is the area of knowledge are known to be having the highest influence on our capability to accomplish absolute inevitability on knowing.

Our world revolves around providing knowledge that is supported with scientific claims, although such claims have to initiate from the mouths of the noble and most intellectual mathematicians and scientists. The same manner at which beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the same way, validity of knowledge is in the mouth of the authentic source. In any I find myself in a scenario whereby I try to convince my friend of a mathematical concept that exists in this world om particular object, he will not agree with me, but if I avail extensive papers that have long written the credible mathematical concept, he will probably sway to believe its possibilities (Skemp and Gulley 172).

Similar to natural science, If I approach my friend with the idea that every living organism on planet earth is comprised of billions of cells, with an assumption that my friend was not the quite enlightened person, he would not agree to the fact. But, if I take the initiative of gaining credible pieces of evidence to support this fact being true, then the friend will completely agree with the fact (van de Lagemaat, 92)..

Mathematics is characterized with the conception of rigorous proof that advances to the knowledge of something with comprehensive certainty. Deliberate the scope to which absolute certainty might be attained in the mathematics as well as natural science. At the first instance, mathematics together with the natural science seems to be two diverse areas of knowledge that mostly entail absolute certainty (Skemp and Gulley 193). The idea of rigorous proof that is characterized in mathematics is the course that attempts are initiated to get irrationality in the mathematical proof. If there would be no irrationality, then it will be deduced that the final notion that was made is completely certain. Although most of the mathematic evidence are basically concentrated on some statements that are supposed to be fact at the start, natural science demands that the statements that are supported by the scientific knowledge need to be correct. A close example is when you advise someone to take a lot of oranges since the fruit contains vitamin C which is vital for the body, there need to be several practical experiments that have been previously been conducted to support that claim (Skemp and Gulley 203).

The reasoning is significant since you are required to look at the question suggest for its answer before you argue whether the answer is reasonable. One is needed to reason and differentiate the possibility alongside the incorrect answers. This is the manner at which the two fields of knowledge may be recognized with the ways of knowing. The theory is something that can be viewed in various perspectives. The theory is something that can indicate various different things in the diverse area of knowledge. In the natural sciences, a theory does not just seem to be knowledge, instead, it is something that is unjustified as it may vary. It is more surmise of belief than anything. It is something that, perhaps when observed into the future with greater technology, may appear to be false and a better answer could be offered. For instance, the theory of evolution could be changed in the coming years, in case the pattern of evolution will be different and less reliable as it is in the present days. However, in mathematics, the theory of knowledge, is justified true belief, we are provided with the formulae and imperative keys that would assist users to resolve the answers, though there is only one logical answer or set of answers to the issue (van de Lagemaat, 117).

Mathematics is connected to reasoning, proposing that the mathematical proofs that are given are the complete certainty. Furthermore, the natural science together with mathematics is both supported by numbers, making them more accurate in regards to the certainty that the rest of the knowledge such as ethics. Although, in science, it is complex to attain absolute certainty due to numerous reasons, some connected to the perception, since it is cumbersome to identify the concept that is utterly true as there could be another concept that is concentrated with more truth to it (van de Lagemaat, 187).

It is less likely for human beings to get absolute certainty in knowledge when using both mathematics and natural science. The reason is due to the fact that mathematics is perceived as the mans creation to communicate and organize highly complex theories and concepts to others while applying a kind language that goes beyond the written or spoken word. Most people observe the written word as more logic compared to the spoken words, similarly, that is applicable in mathematics. The idea that something can be written in the numbered format by authentic source does not mean that it's necessarily true (Bailly, Francis, and Giuseppe 158).

The same discernment can be applied in determining the extent of certainty attained while using proofs from natural science, with the further external variable. This can be clarified through evolution. From the beginning, natural sciences were discovered, scrutinized and then recorded for further studies by man. A little of the level of certainty that can be extracted is the inability to change nature without disturbing it and human observations themselves are major problems in the natural science. Conversantly, absolute certainty can only be found in a few cases in nature (van de Lagemaat, 296).

Models in the natural science are described with less certainty in contrast to that in mathematics. It is contended that science theories together with the results ate founded on the experimentation since it is through this that concepts are advanced. For instance, scientists can establish the number of calories that are in peanut if they go ahead to conduct the actual test under ideal conditions. For determining the energy produced. This contrary to mathematics where the knowledge is widely concentrated in the logic and reasoning and does not involve any form of experimentation. It is hard to give proof of knowledge created in the experimentation due to the fact that even if experiments are conducted under the same conditions, no precise answers will be obtained by the scientists, due to the involved uncertainties, widely because of human error. Hence, it is not conceivable to get absolute certainty as there is no logical structure to proof as compared to that in mathematics. This is evident through the Einsteins Relativity and Newton's Law of Motion. When the testing was done on the Law of Motion, they were perceived as certain, but later on, they were nothing but the approximation to Special Relativity that has now been outdated by Quantum Mechanics. This is to mean that, scientific concepts are not quite certain as they basically replace the new theories (Bailly, Francis, and Giuseppe 257).

Mathematics is closely linked to logical reasoning, which is backed by certainty such that A=B and B=c that A=C. When people attempt to support their decision s with reasonings, they use deconstructive problems solving, with an assumption that it will leash them to correct results. Instinctively we get persuaded that due to both mathematics and natural since are backed by numbers, the ending results will be accurate and precise as compared to the subjective reasoning. It means many people consider that both entails mathematical terms, natural sciences together with mathematics are interconnected. Keeping in mind that, mathematics is a man-made, established to offer credible proofs for natural sciences (Bailly, Francis, and Giuseppe 312).

Natural science was a made-made terminology, though it originates from humans core existence. Also, natural science was never created by man, but it was existing on earth from the beginning. This is to mean that, what we study from natural science is virtuously based on thousands of years worth of observation of what is happening in our environment (van de Lagemaat, 307). With the inclusion of technology, human has been able to dig deeper into the natural sciences, though it is scrutiny of either how things work or how they came into existence, or basically foreseeing where we were, where we are and in future, where we will be. It is perceived that since natural science and mathematics are both similar to one another, and they apply same problem-solving mode; they are reconnected (Bailly, Francis, and Giuseppe 195).

To deduce the whole theory of knowledge, it is impossible for humans to fulfill absolute certainty in knowledge using mathematics as well as natural sciences since there are assumptions, and also, the involved level element of perceptions that would eventually generate uncertainty. This goes without saying that the uncertainty in various mathematical concepts influence the certainty in the sciences together with the rest of area of knowledge since some of the science concepts are grounded on numbers like quantum mechanics in physics. Natural science is heavily influenced by mathematics in physics as the physicians apply math which is yet to be certain enough, but it is much accurate and therefore there is a likelihood of discovering the theory that is covered with substantial truth to it than the previous one. The certainty level to be achieved with absolute certainty of knowledge ends with the similar results, with the application of multitudes of empirical evidence got from observations. This is to say that, although the natural sciences and mathematics may attain highly accurate and detailed results, with limited expectation in nature, there will be no chance of attaining absolute certainty.

Works Cited

Bailly, Francis, and Giuseppe Longo. Mathematics and the natural sciences: the physical singularity of life. Vol. 7. World Scientific, 2011.

Skemp, J. B., and N. Gulley. "Plato's Theory of Knowledge." (1965).

van de Lagemaat, Richard. Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma. Cambridge University Press, 2014.

Request Removal

If you are the original author of this essay and no longer wish to have it published on the customtermpaperwriting.org website, please click below to request its removal: