|Alphabetical list of History Topics||History Topics Index| What
is the relation between mathematics and the physical world? For
example consider Newton's laws of motion. If we deduce results
about mechanics from these laws, are we discovering properties
of the physical world, or are we simply proving results in an
abstract mathematical system? Does a mathematical model, no
matter how good, only predict behaviour of the physical world or
does it give us insight into the nature of that world? Does the
belief that the world functions through simple mathematical
relationships tell us something about the world, or does it only
tell us something about the way humans think. In this article we
explore a little of the history of the philosophy of science in
order to look at differing views to the type of questions that
we have just considered. The most natural starting place
historically for examining the relationship between mathematics
and the physical world is through the views of Pythagoras. The
views of Pythagor