Trick or Truth? The Mysterious Connection Between Physics and Mathem

The prize-winning essays in this book address the fascinating but sometimes uncomfortable relationship between physics and mathematics. Is mathematics merely another natural science? Or is it the result of human creativity? Does physics simply wear mathem

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F R O N T I E R S

C O L L E C T I O N

Anthony Aguirre Brendan Foster Zeeya Merali (Eds.)

Trick or Truth? Th e M y s te r i o u s Connec ti on Bet ween Physics a n d M at h e m at i c s

123

THE FRONTIERS COLLECTION Series editors Avshalom C. Elitzur Iyar The Israel Institute for Advanced Research, Rehovot, Israel e-mail: [email protected] Laura Mersini-Houghton Department of Physics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3255, USA e-mail: [email protected] T. Padmanabhan Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, India Maximilian Schlosshauer Department of Physics, University of Portland, Portland, OR 97203, USA e-mail: [email protected] Mark P. Silverman Department of Physics, Trinity College, Hartford, CT 06106, USA e-mail: [email protected] Jack A. Tuszynski Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada e-mail: [email protected] Rüdiger Vaas Center for Philosophy and Foundations of Science, University of Giessen, 35394, Giessen, Germany e-mail: [email protected]

THE FRONTIERS COLLECTION

Series Editors A.C. Elitzur L. Mersini-Houghton T. Padmanabhan M.P. Silverman J.A. Tuszynski R. Vaas

M. Schlosshauer

The books in this collection are devoted to challenging and open problems at the forefront of modern science, including related philosophical debates. In contrast to typical research monographs, however, they strive to present their topics in a manner accessible also to scientifically literate non-specialists wishing to gain insight into the deeper implications and fascinating questions involved. Taken as a whole, the series reflects the need for a fundamental and interdisciplinary approach to modern science. Furthermore, it is intended to encourage active scientists in all areas to ponder over important and perhaps controversial issues beyond their own speciality. Extending from quantum physics and relativity to entropy, consciousness and complex systems—the Frontiers Collection will inspire readers to push back the frontiers of their own knowledge.

More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/5342

For a full list of published titles, please see back of book or springer.com/series/5342

Anthony Aguirre Brendan Foster Zeeya Merali •

Editors

Trick or Truth? The Mysterious Connection Between Physics and Mathematics

123

Editors Anthony Aguirre Department of Physics University of California Santa Cruz, CA USA

Zeeya Merali Foundational Questions Institute Decatur, GA USA

Brendan Foster Foundational Questions Institute Decatur, GA USA

ISSN 1612-3018 ISSN 2197-6619 (electronic) THE FRONTIERS COLLECTION ISBN 978-3-319-27494-2 ISBN 978-3-319-27495-9 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-27495-9 Library of Congress Control Number: 2015958338 © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse o