James F Peters

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Questions related from James F Peters

What does epistemology tell us about the mind?

In the OED, epistemology is defined as follows: epistemology /I%pIstI"mQl@dZi, E-/ · n. Philosophy the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. –...

25 January 2019 3,407 12 View

Do we usually quantify or geometricize or topologize our description of physical shapes?

Is a habit of the mind to quantify (measure, or view geometrically, or topologically) what we know about physical shapes? Is the use of geometry or topology or metrics underlying our perception...

25 January 2019 9,552 2 View

What is an example of a light caustic and what is an example of a photonic catastrophe?

A light caustic is the result of light reflected from a curved surface. The attached images show an example of a coffee cup caustic and its geometry. A coffee cup caustic has two main...

02 January 2019 4,285 1 View

What are examples of vortexes in the physical world?

There are many different forms of vortexes in the physical world. Here are two common examples: Tornado vortex. These are common atmospheric disturbance in the Midwest in North America (see,...

20 June 2018 3,666 7 View

What do we mean by shape and when do two objects have similar shapes?

By definition, a shape is an external form or appearance of something. This is how the Oxford English Dictionary defines the term shape. But then this definition raises more questions than it...

17 May 2016 6,916 43 View

What are applications of convex sets and the notion of convexity in mathematics and science?

In a Euclidean space, an object S is convex, provided the line segment connecting each pair of points in S is also within S. Examples of convex objects in the attached image include convex...

19 September 2014 3,336 23 View

Are there mathematicians, scientists or philosophers whose work you view as influencing historical outcomes in a minor or in a major significant way?

Do you think that the interaction between such scholars has led to the success of their work in making an impact? Scholars such as Euclid (geometry), Newton (science), Plato (philosophy)...

17 April 2014 7,820 90 View

Are patterns in human designs a mirror of patterns found in nature or are patterns in human designs somehow different from patterns found in nature?

The word "pattern" in everyday parlance often means something typical that can be repeated, something characteristically capable of repetition into similar copies (Ulf Grenander, Elements of...

28 February 2014 8,876 74 View

Is the beauty of patterns or are the structures in patterns the most important source of mathematics?

It was observed in an earlier thread that G.H. Hardy made the following observation in his 194o book A Mathematician's Apology: "The mathematician's patterns, like the painter's or the poet's,...

01 February 2014 6,873 96 View

How does the current view of infinity differ from Greek mathematics?

Infinity in mathematics is a property of a set of objects that is not finite. The traditional view of infinity has its origin in the writings of Aristotle and the notion of potential infinity. "It...

08 January 2014 6,805 99 View

From your point of view, what are examples of geometric patterns in digital images?

Repeated polygonal shapes or repeated colours are sources of visual patterns. Another important source of patterns are the presence of convex sets and convex hulls in digital images, especially...

02 August 2013 3,823 15 View

In looking for technologies with no history, which technologies have been neglected?

Here are is a sample technology without a history: Philips head vs. Roberts head wood screws. Philips head wood screw: see the attached image...

01 January 1970 9,165 7 View