Theory of Knowledge Essay

 
 
Both math and ethics are abstract frameworks imposed on the world. Discuss.

Grace Nguyen
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Both math and ethics are abstract frameworks imposed on the world. Discuss.

The prompt states that all math and ethics are abstract and derive from ideas/thoughts
with no physical existence. Thus implying that math and ethics are solely mental constructions
that cannot exist without us imposing them. On one hand, mathematics as an area of
knowledge projects its abstract manner of knowledge production on the world as geometry
presents concepts and shapes with no corresponding phenomena. Thus mathematics is
theoretical and reveals to us information about the real world. In the area of knowledge of ethics
it articulates constructs for human behaviour and thought without any substance in the physical
world such as the golden mean and normative ethics. However, the prompt can be challenged
as in ethics can result from genetics and is pre-ordained into our gene pool as shown through
animals. Empirical mathematicians maintain that math is in the world and that we get our math
from the world such as fractal patterns and bee hives. The prompt maintains that math and
ethics are solely abstract frameworks, disregarding the concrete experience that influenced the
ideas. This essay will explore the areas of knowledge of math and ethics to establish the prompt
is valid only to some extent.

The prompt holds validity for the area of knowledge mathematic as it produces
knowledge claims pertinent and reflective of its own realm. Suggesting that it is an abstract
framework designed to explore and produce its own idealizations and generalizations. An
example is that nowhere in the physical, natural world does a “perfect circle” exist. Our world is
devoid of “perfect circles” as even on a macro-level such as the Sun, which looks perfectly
round, bulges out approximately 10 kilometers at its equator (Carnegie Mellon University, 2019).
According to Euclidean geometry, a circle is a simple shape comprising set points on a plane
equidistant from a point, the centre. To represent a circle, a geometric plane would require an
infinite number of points, unlike other shapes like squares and triangles. Therefore, any
calculations involving circles would involve infinitely precise numbers such as pi. Thus
mathematically, a “perfect circle” can exist if it follows the rules of the Euclidean geometry.
However, in the physical world the sphere or “perfect circle” is difficult to determine as it would
need to measure an infinite number of points around the circle’s circumference to know for sure.
Additionally, each point must be precise from particle level to the molecular level making it
nearly impossible to determine if the shape is perfect. Another example is pure math, developed
purely for intellectual exercise that turns out to be applicable in the real world. In the third
century BCE, a greek geometer called Apollonius of Perga was fascinated with the geometry of
ellipses. Through conic sections, he defined the terms of ellipse, parabola, and hyperbola
through pure mathematics. The knowledge he acquired from splitting the cone was deemed
completely useless. However, in the seventeenth-century an astronomer named Johannes
Kepler discovered that the orbits of the planets round the sun was elliptical rather than circular.
Two thousand years of being merely an academic interest, Apollonius’ work became of practical
value. Through pure math his theorem was then imposed onto the world for functional use.
From these two examples, it is proven that mathematics exist in the abstract realm which is then
imposed onto the world.
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The prompt is invalid to some extent as math does exist outside of abstraction in the
physical world. Empirical mathematicians maintain that math exists in the physical world and
that we discover mathematical facts by empirical research. An example is fractal patterns which
are never-ending complex patterns that are self-similar across varying scales. This dynamic
system is seen in nature such as trees, rivers, seashells, and even the human veins and lungs.
These patterns are then expressed through fractal geometry and help us understand important
concepts such as bacteria growth and brain waves and allow scientific breakthroughs such as
wireless cell phone antennas. This is seen through Mandelbrot’s set where he used fractal
patterns to extend the concept of theoretical fractional dimensions to geometric patterns in
nature. Another example is that although some concepts and shapes in geometry may not
physically exist such as the “perfect” circle, the hexagon is a recurring structure found in nature.
Bee hives make perfect hexagons and we can look into the world and go that’s a perfect
hexagon. The hexagon structure being able to efficiently pack space with the least amount of
material, provide more robust protection, and have the most surface area. These repeated
structures are found in tortoise shells, in the ommatidia of insects’ eyes and in non-living matter
too such as snow flakes and minerals. Therefore, this shape and patterns existed before
Mandelbrot or other mathematicians coined the name and function for them. Empirical
mathematicians maintain that math is in the world and that we get our math from the world such
as fractal patterns and bee hives.

Through the area of knowing ethics, the prompt is supported as ethics cannot access the
world directly or existentially. Ethics consists of interpretations of the world and humanity activity
rather than an accurate reflection of them. As seen through one of the three ethical theories
general subject areas, normative ethics take on a more practical sense. One which involves
moral standards to regulate right and wrong conduct. The Golden Rule, “we should do to others
what we would want others to do to us” (Encyclopedia of Philosophy, n.d.), is an example of
normative principle. The Golden Rule is a heuristic that helps to concretize abstract principles
through personalizing them. The word “should” does not exist in the real world and is
ambiguous in meaning as it connotes a choice. Therefore, the Golden Rule comprises a set
guideline for human activity which is purely abstract in theoretical consequences of actions.
Such as since I would want people to help me if I was hurt, then I should help other hurt people.
Another example is the golden mean which is a guideline for ethical decisions created by
philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle states that moral behaviour is the mean between two extremes,
at one end is deficiency and the other is excess. To be moral, you must find the moderate
position between the two extremes which is the golden mean. For example, courage is a virtue
but when taken to excess it would become recklessness and in deficiency become cowardice.
The golden mean is abstract as it is completely theoretical as you cannot see the line that
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divides excess and deficiency. Additionally, for some the golden mean varies as some find
actions less excessive while others find it immoral. Therefore, the prompt is valid as through
normative ethics and the golden mean, both comprises abstract concepts that must be followed
to be ethical/moral.

The prompt can be challenged however as ethics exists in animals who are not imposed
by our abstract frameworks. Although the field of ethics was coined and created by Socrates,
humans and animals have been ethical before the field’s creation. An example are elephants
who are known to be natural altruists. From Douglas Hamilton’s research, elephants can
experience compassion and there is evidence of elephants helping ill or injured members of
their herd (Telegraph, 2009). In one case a matriarch elephant fell ill and a female in the herd
gently tried to help the matriarch back to her feet and stayed with her before she died. Another
case is in 2003 where a herd of 11 elephants rescued antelopes who were being held inside an
enclosure in South Africa. Diana monkeys are another species that display empathy. In a
laboratory experiment by Professor Bekoff, Diana monkeys were trained to insert a token into a
slot to obtain food. A male who knew how to perform that task was found helping the oldest
female who had not been able to learn how to insert the token. On three occasions the male
would pick up the tokens she would drop and do the task for her and gave her all the food
proportions. With no benefit for the male monkey, it can be argued that this is a clear example
that animals have some internal moral compass. Through the area of knowing ethics, elephants
and Diana monkeys show morality and empathy, thus, suggesting that ethics is in a gene pool
and is pre-ordained. Therefore, the prompt is invalid in the case of animals who are able to
display ethics without being imposed by our abstract frameworks.

In conclusion, this essay has demonstrated that the prompt can be accepted to some
degree valid and challenged to some. Both math and ethics have concrete relationships with the
world and are both abstract frameworks in regards to concepts with no corresponding phenom
(perfect circles and normative ethics). However, one must also consider the natural
phenomenons existent in the physical world that produces math and ethics such as fractal
patterns and the moral behaviour of animals. It is apparent that in the areas of math and ethics
that information can be purely abstractions generated through the human mind to be imposed
onto the world for function but can also be found in the physical world naturally. With regards to
the prompt, math and ethics are both abstract frameworks imposed onto the world to some
extent. Thereby, given the argument that the two areas of knowing are both conceptual maps as
well as clear experiential applications, both are working implications. We don’t know which is
correct, the perceptual way or the conceptual so in terms of producing knowledge both methods
have to be trusted.

Word Count: 1598

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Sources:

Payne, E. (2019, March 14). Do Perfect Circles Exist? Maybe. - Mellon College of Science -
Carnegie Mellon University. Retrieved June 1, 2019, from
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What are Fractals? (n.d.). Retrieved June 1, 2019, from
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Are Hexagons Natural? (2015, October 27). Retrieved June 1, 2019, from
https://evolutionnews.org/2015/10/are_hexagons_na/
R. G. (2009, May 23). Animals can tell right from wrong. Retrieved June 1, 2019, from
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