There is a correct answer to everything.

Mathematics and statistics provides us with a correct answer to every question. Why do we not use this knowledge? Seems people like to think they are unique, but a proper algorithm could predict every choice you would make in life. Everytime we make a big decision in life we weigh all the options and consequences, all of this can be represented in a mathematical formula.

we tend to bicker over everything, when in reality its all rather pointless.. there is a correct answer to every issue out there, that can be solved with math. But at the same time we argue that intellectuals cant make proper decision... when in reality they could predict you would say that. Should we look to our mathematicians for answers, seeing as how they know us better than we do?

whatever your reply is to this thread, it could be predicted with an equation... does that bother you?

hi :).*waves *

Then I can talk about Motorhead in maths. YES!

"Everytime we make a big decision in life we weigh all the options and consequences" You'll find that humans are very irrational... Even having a complex program to make the best choices 90% of humans wouldn't actually pick the best choice. jeremiah06

with enough back data irrationality, can be equated for. A math equation can account for human stupidity.

but a proper algorithm could predict every choice you would make in life

markinthedark

This is the part I disagree with. To be fair there may have been other parts too.

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

but a proper algorithm could predict every choice you would make in life

quetzalcoatI

This is the part I disagree with. To be fair there may have been other parts too.

think of it this way, if we catalogued all the decisions you have made in life... we could calculate your probability of disagreeing with a statement like this. With a precise enough algorithm, we could calculate your word for word response.

[QUOTE="quetzalcoatI"]

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

but a proper algorithm could predict every choice you would make in life

markinthedark

This is the part I disagree with. To be fair there may have been other parts too.

think of it this way, if we catalogued all the decisions you have made in life... we could calculate your probability of disagreeing with a statement like this. With a precise enough algorithm, we could calculate your word for word response.

i wanna see a human working in any kind of equation like op describes

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

[QUOTE="quetzalcoatI"]

This is the part I disagree with. To be fair there may have been other parts too.

quetzalcoatI

think of it this way, if we catalogued all the decisions you have made in life... we could calculate your probability of disagreeing with a statement like this. With a precise enough algorithm, we could calculate your word for word response.

so you are saying there is no pattern to your behavior? would you go out of your way to save a baby, only to go out of your way to murder a baby? or is there a underlying consistency to your actions?

No, because questions regarding morality cannot be put into math. You could calculate on what an individual would do based on personality and past experiences however whether it is morally correct or not cannot be answered by math.

For example lets say the government decides to make Law A now Law A will save the government substantial budget however it will incite unrest among People A. Math could be used to calculate the effects, casualties, long term benefits. But you cannot put values and morality in math.

i wanna see a human working in any kind of equation like op describes

Krelian-co

there are actually some... i think to 90% accuracy at this point... based on the last news report i remember hearing.

[QUOTE="quetzalcoatI"][QUOTE="markinthedark"]

think of it this way, if we catalogued all the decisions you have made in life... we could calculate your probability of disagreeing with a statement like this. With a precise enough algorithm, we could calculate your word for word response.

markinthedark

so you are saying there is no pattern to your behavior? would you go out of your way to save a baby, only to go out of your way to murder a baby? or is there a underlying consistency to your actions?

[QUOTE="jeremiah06"]"Everytime we make a big decision in life we weigh all the options and consequences" You'll find that humans are very irrational... Even having a complex program to make the best choices 90% of humans wouldn't actually pick the best choice. markinthedark

with enough back data irrationality, can be equated for. A math equation can account for human stupidity.

No, because questions regarding morality cannot be put into math. You could calculate on what an individual would do based on personality and past experiences however whether it is morally correct or not cannot be answered by math.

For example lets say the government decides to make Law A now Law A will save the government substantial budget however it will incite unrest among People A. Math could be used to calculate the effects, casualties, long term benefits. But you cannot put values and morality in math.

Gamerz1569

morality could easily be accounted for in math. You use existing data of what people consider moral, and form an equation.

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

[QUOTE="quetzalcoatI"] No you couldn't. Can you demonstrate otherwise? You are basically arguing that free will does not exist, which is wrong in my opinion.quetzalcoatI

so you are saying there is no pattern to your behavior? would you go out of your way to save a baby, only to go out of your way to murder a baby? or is there a underlying consistency to your actions?

who would let their family starve... not that you have been perfectly mathematically formulated in an equation, but you could be. Rarely are things 100% in math... but your actions could be 99.9% predicted.

morality could easily be accounted for in math. You use existing data of what people consider moral, and form an equation.

markinthedark

But thats just it, people have different views in what is or what is not morally correct. Coupled with the fact that Laws are supposedly a collective consensus on 'morality', even if an equation could be 'drawn' it would be quite long and complex and each person would have a different equation. Not to mention the other problem called "How would you get the personality profile and past experiences of every individual".

Math can be used to statistically determine, which club you would most likely enjoy, which brand of soap you prefer or which girl would you probably date. But math cannot make decisions for you. Why? Because human beings are a walking paradox.

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

morality could easily be accounted for in math. You use existing data of what people consider moral, and form an equation.

Gamerz1569

But thats just it, people have different views in what is or what is not morally correct. Coupled with the fact that Laws are supposedly a collective consensus on 'morality', even if an equation could be 'drawn' it would be quite long and complex and each person would have a different equation. Not to mention the other problem called "How would you get the personality profile and past experiences of every individual".

Math can be used to statistically determine, which club you would most likely enjoy, which brand of soap you prefer or which girl would you probably date. But math cannot make decisions for you. Why? Because human beings are a walking paradox.

if someone took the time, to examine all your back data... an equation could make better decisions than you could.

obviously nobody out there is preparing algorithms for every human, but if someone did create a personalized equation for you... it could make better life decisions than you could.

[QUOTE="Gamerz1569"]

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

morality could easily be accounted for in math. You use existing data of what people consider moral, and form an equation.

markinthedark

But thats just it, people have different views in what is or what is not morally correct. Coupled with the fact that Laws are supposedly a collective consensus on 'morality', even if an equation could be 'drawn' it would be quite long and complex and each person would have a different equation. Not to mention the other problem called "How would you get the personality profile and past experiences of every individual".

Math can be used to statistically determine, which club you would most likely enjoy, which brand of soap you prefer or which girl would you probably date. But math cannot make decisions for you. Why? Because human beings are a walking paradox.

if someone took the time, to examine all your back data... an equation could make better decisions than you could.

obviously nobody out there is preparing algorithms for every human, but if someone did create a personalized equation for you... it could make better life decisions than you could.

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

[QUOTE="Gamerz1569"]

But thats just it, people have different views in what is or what is not morally correct. Coupled with the fact that Laws are supposedly a collective consensus on 'morality', even if an equation could be 'drawn' it would be quite long and complex and each person would have a different equation. Not to mention the other problem called "How would you get the personality profile and past experiences of every individual".

Math can be used to statistically determine, which club you would most likely enjoy, which brand of soap you prefer or which girl would you probably date. But math cannot make decisions for you. Why? Because human beings are a walking paradox.

jeremiah06

if someone took the time, to examine all your back data... an equation could make better decisions than you could.

obviously nobody out there is preparing algorithms for every human, but if someone did create a personalized equation for you... it could make better life decisions than you could.

that would fall into the 0.001% category. Which math would account for.

obviously nobody out there is preparing algorithms for every human, but if someone did create a personalized equation for you... it could make better life decisions than you could.

markinthedark

Thats the thing could make better decisions but would you make the choice? No. Humans cannot be equated.

For example lets say Billy can make 1 valentines day card he could give one to Lisa or Marie (lets assume that the one whom he gives the card to will be his girlfriend), now Marie is one of the hottest girls in the school but she talks to much Billy smiles around her 53% of the time. Now Lisa is average on the looks, is pretty smart and makes Billy smile 96% of the time.

Mathematically, Lisa makes Billy happier than Marie but in the end the card is given to her, despite only making Billy smile 53% of the time. But after a few months as their relationship Billy smiles 98% of the time around her.

Conclusion:

Math cannot answer everything when it comes to human behaviour, remember life is unpredictable. While numbers may lean you to do that decision it cannot predict the future.

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

obviously nobody out there is preparing algorithms for every human, but if someone did create a personalized equation for you... it could make better life decisions than you could.

Gamerz1569

Thats the thing could make better decisions but would you make the choice? No. Humans cannot be equated.

For example lets say Billy can make 1 valentines day card he could give one to Lisa or Marie (lets assume that the one whom he gives the card to will be his girlfriend), now Marie is one of the hottest girls in the school but she talks to much Billy smiles around her 53% of the time. Now Lisa is average on the looks, is pretty smart and makes Billy smile 96% of the time.

Mathematically, Lisa makes Billy happier than Marie but in the end the card is given to her, despite only making Billy smile 53% of the time. But after a few months as their relationship Billy smiles 98% of the time around her.

Conclusion:

Math cannot answer everything when it comes to human behaviour, remember life is unpredictable. While numbers may lean you to do that decision it cannot predict the future.

can human intellect do any better? in terms of relationships, we learn from doing. Math will always outpace our brains.

can human intellect do any better? in terms of relationships, we learn from doing. Math will always outpace our brains.

markinthedark

It cant but neither can math. Because neither can predict the future. The only way to know the end of a journey is walking through it, not bickering on how to do it.

At the quantum level, it is 100% impossible to predict certain events with exact precision. Statistical models can give precise long-range results, such as the half-life of radioactive isotopes, but you quite simply cannot (and I do mean cannot, not that we simply don't have the tools to do so) predict the exact moment when a given radioactive atom will undergo decay. If we assume that the mechanics behind human behavior is chaotic - that is, extremely sensitive to initial conditions - then that quantum unpredictability would necessarily compound into macroscopic unpredictability in humans. As such, just as we can only make accurate statements about quantum events at a statistical level, so too would we only be able to make accurate statements about human behavior at a statistical level.

Also, mathematicians most certainly do not know us better than we do - if there's one thing a mathematician hates, it's real-world applicability of anything they do. :P

[QUOTE="jeremiah06"][QUOTE="markinthedark"]

if someone took the time, to examine all your back data... an equation could make better decisions than you could.

obviously nobody out there is preparing algorithms for every human, but if someone did create a personalized equation for you... it could make better life decisions than you could.

markinthedark

that would fall into the 0.001% category. Which math would account for.

I've thought about this before, and I figured it couldn't work for these reasons:

Far too many variables and random occurances that will need to be accounted for in advance.

Note the random part^^

As far as I know emotions, actions, consequences and previously mentioned random occurances, as well as the actions, emotions, etc, of other people cannot be formulated into a numerical value with the other factors, such as age, height, distance traveled, etc.

Any calculator will immediately read syntax error upon any attempt of solving this equation.

You cannot divide by zero, which will inevitably have to happen.

Probably, apparently you can solve crime mysteries with Numb3rs.

:P

Mathematics and statistics provides us with a correct answer to every question. Why do we not use this knowledge? Seems people like to think they are unique, but a proper algorithm could predict every choice you would make in life. Everytime we make a big decision in life we weigh all the options and consequences, all of this can be represented in a mathematical formula.

we tend to bicker over everything, when in reality its all rather pointless.. there is a correct answer to every issue out there, that can be solved with math. But at the same time we argue that intellectuals cant make proper decision... when in reality they could predict you would say that. Should we look to our mathematicians for answers, seeing as how they know us better than we do?

whatever your reply is to this thread, it could be predicted with an equation... does that bother you?

markinthedark

my great great great uncle died from a combination of aids and scoliosis. predict that mosuckra

The problem is, mathematically determining the answer to every problem is impossible. The equations for many simple things are too long and too complex to be done and many decisions require snap judgement which means you can't sit around crunching numbers to figure out the answer.

There's a reason we're not purely analytical and use heuristics, it keeps us ahead of the curve.

[QUOTE="quetzalcoatI"]

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

but a proper algorithm could predict every choice you would make in life

markinthedark

This is the part I disagree with. To be fair there may have been other parts too.

think of it this way, if we catalogued all the decisions you have made in life... we could calculate your probability of disagreeing with a statement like this. With a precise enough algorithm, we could calculate your word for word response.

Correct is subjective... ;)

[spoiler] ROFLOLOLOL [/spoiler]

There is no correct answer to everything, because what one person thinks is correct another person might think is not. Come back to me when you use your math to create world peace or some **** like that.SoraX64

Nukes + Everyone = World Peace

Solved. It also gets rid of world hunger too! :P

[QUOTE="SoraX64"]There is no correct answer to everything, because what one person thinks is correct another person might think is not. Come back to me when you use your math to create world peace or some **** like that.metroidfood

Nukes + Everyone = World Peace

Solved. It also gets rid of the world too! :P

No, not really, because in order to formulate such an equation we would have to break things down into their smaller parts. For example, we would need to look at the specific neurochemical reactions that occur in a person's brain to gauge their decision. However, once we reduce it to the quantum level, we'd be screwed for obvious reasons.

The fault with your theory: Math is logical and absolute, and the assumption made is that humans are likewise. They are not.

It that was the case I would win everytime I played poker. I know the odds and stats. Luck and randomness makes that impossible.

Can math answer this question? Is the cup half full or half empty?

Can math answer this question? Is the cup half full or half empty?

arad96

Yes.

Which type of bear is best?

False, Black Bear.

Fact. Bears eat beats.

Bears. Beats. Battlestar Galatica.

Can math answer this question? Is the cup half full or half empty?

arad96

Semantics is not independant of people's perception and that fact I think goes well along with what Ultimolce said above.

God is the correct answer to everything.

Did math predict I would say that? If so, then bravo.