Full Idea
How is mathematical discourse able to describe a reality where humanity is absent?
Gist of Idea
How can we mathematically describe a world that lacks humans?
Source
Quentin Meillassoux (After Finitude; the necessity of contingency [2006], 1)
Book Reference
Meillassoux: 'After Finitude: the necessity of contingency', ed/tr. Brassier,R [Bloomsbury 2008], p.26
A Reaction
He is referring to the prehistoric world. He takes this to be a key question about the laws of nature. We extrapolate mathematically from the experienced world, relying on the stability of the laws. Must they be necessary to be stable? No, it seems.