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Single Idea 3645

[from 'Il Saggiatore ('The Assayer')' by Galileo Galilei, in 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 4. Mathematical Nature ]

Full Idea

The great book of the universe cannot be understood unless one can understand the language in which it is written - the language of mathematics.

Gist of Idea

To understand the universe mathematics is essential

Source

Galileo Galilei (Il Saggiatore ('The Assayer') [1623], VI.232)

Book Reference

Cottingham,John: 'The Rationalists' [OUP 1988], p.5


A Reaction

Nice, though one might say that humans created the language of maths to help them discuss the patterns they perceived in nature. Maybe what is special is order, and all order can be described mathematically.