Religion never hurt anybody... (rant)

The scientific revolution was most noticeably marked by Aristotle, upon which I will post this little exerpt:

 

9/11 is linked with Osama. The war in Iraq is linked with Saddam. Saddam and Osama are not linked. The events of 9/11 have no bearing on the war on Iraq. The current war is due to imagined WMD's, the 'white man's burden' in regards to democracy, and of course, oil. The religious attribute is the same propaganda used in WWII.

 

I was actually quoting Albert Einstein. Pwned.

 

No shit, Sherlock. Einstein was not perfect. Pwned.

 

Did I say he was perfect? You said the statement lacked logic and it was Einstein's statement. Is there no irony in you calling Einstein illogical? Pwned in the phace.

 

Again, do you pray to the infallible Einstein? You've pwned yourself in the ass.

Aristotle's work was never forgotten by the Europeans.

Moslems dabbled in science mostly because they thought it would reveal something about the Last Day, but since they abandoned scientific inquiry entirely. Jack shit has come from them in 500 years, and much of that, including the "zero", was taken from other cultures.

 

Who said anything about prayer? I jokingly pointed out you calling Einstein illogical, nothing more. If you want to take things so seriously and start putting words in my mouth then fine, but in my opinion you need to lighten up.

Iden said the scientific revolution came from Christianity, Aristotle began the scientific revolution and has factual relations to Islam. If you'd like to debate it take it up with Washington State University, which is from where I got the information. And if you consider Algebra as jack shit, I pity your self worth.

 

Ah, so we are taking full credit for Algebra, and for advances in Algebra within the last 500 years no less? You are delusional.




Babylonian Algebra

The mathematics of the Old Babylonian Period (1800 - 1600 B.C.) was more advanced that that of Egypt. Their "excellent sexagesimal [numeration system]. . . led to a highly developed algebra" [Kline]. They had a general procedure equivalent to solving quadratic equations, although they recognized only one root and that had to be positive. In effect, they had the quadratic formula.



Greek Geometrical Algebra

The Greeks of the classical period, who did not recognize the existence of irrational numbers, avoided the problem thus created by representing quantities as geometrical magnitudes. Various algebraic identities and constructions equivalent to the solution of quadratic equations were expressed and proven in geometric form.



Diophantine Algebra

The later Greek mathematician, Diophantus (fl. 250 A.D.), represents the end result of a movement among Greeks (Archimedes, Apollonius, Ptolemy, Heron, Nichomachus) away from geometrical algebra to a treatment which did not depend upon geometry either for motivation or to bolster its logic. He introduced the syncopated style of writing equations, although, as we will mention below, the rhetorical style remained in common use for many more centuries to come.





Hindu Algebra

The successors of the Greeks in the history of mathematics were the Hindus of India. The Hindu civilization dates back to at least 2000 B.C. Their record in mathematics dates from about 800 B.C., but became significant only after influenced by Greek achievements. Most Hindu mathematics was motivated by astronomy and astrology. A base ten, positional notation system was standard by 600 A.D. They treated zero as a number and discussed operations involving this number.

The Hindus introduced negative numbers to represent debts. The first known use is by Brahmagupta about 628. Bhaskara (b. 1114) recognized that a positive number has two square roots. The Hindus also developed correct procedures for operating with irrational numbers.

They made progress in algebra as well as arithmetic. They developed some symbolism which, though not extensive, was enough to classify Hindu algebra as almost symbolic and certainly more so than the syncopated algebra of Diophantus. Only the steps in the solutions of problems were stated; no reasons or proofs accompanied them.

The Hindus recognized that quadratic equations have two roots, and included negative as well as irrational roots. They could not, however, solve all quadratics since they did not recognize square roots of negative numbers as numbers. In indeterminate equations the Hindus advanced beyond Diophantus. Aryabhata (b. 476) obtained whole number solutions to ax ± by = c by a method equivalent to the modern method. They also considered indeterminate quadratic equations.



Arabic Algebra

In the 7th and 8th centuries the Arabs, united by Mohammed, conquered the land from India, across northern Africa, to Spain. In the following centuries (through the 14th) they pursued the arts and sciences and were responsible for most of the scientific advances made in the west. Although the language was Arabic many of the scholars were Greeks, Christians, Persians, or Jews. Their most valuable contribution was the preservation of Greek learning through the middle ages, and it is through their translations that much of what we know today about the Greeks became available. In addition they made original contributions of their own.

They took over and improved the Hindu number symbols and the idea of positional notation. These numerals (the Hindu-Arabic system of numeration) and the algorithms for operating with them were transmitted to Europe around 1200 and are in use throughout the world today.

Like the Hindus, the Arabs worked freely with irrationals. However they took a backward step in rejecting negative numbers in spite of having learned of them from the Hindus.





European Algebra after 1500

At the beginning of this period, zero had been accepted as a number and irrationals were used freely although people still worried about whether they were really numbers. Negative numbers were known but were not fully accepted. Complex numbers were as yet unimagined. Full acceptance of all components of our familiar number system did not come until the 19th century. Algebra in 1500 was still largely rhetorical. Renaissance mathematics was to be characterized by the rise of algebra.

In the 16th century there were great advances in technique, notably the solution of the cubic and quartic equations - achievements called by Boyer "perhaps the greatest contribution to algebra since the Babylonians learned to solve quadratic equations almost four millennia earlier." Publication of these results in 1545 in the Ars Magna by Cardano (who did not discover them) is often taken to mark the beginning of the modern period in mathematics. Cardano was the best algebraist of his age, but his algebra was still rhetorical. Subsequent efforts to solve polynomial equations of degrees higher than four by methods similar to those used for the quadratic, cubic, and quartic are comparable to the efforts of the ancient Greeks to solve the three classical construction problems: they led to much good mathematics but only to a negative outcome.

There were also at this time many important improvements in symbolism which made possible a science of algebra as opposed to the collection of isolated techniques ("bag of tricks") that had been the content of algebra up to this point.

The landmark advance in symbolism was made by Viète (French, 1540-1603) who used letters to represent known constants (parameters). This advance freed algebra from the consideration of particular equations and thus allowed a great increase in generality and opened the possibility for studying the relationship between the coefficients of an equation an the roots of the equation ("theory of equations"). Viète's algebra was still syncopated rather than completely symbolic. Symbolic algebra reached full maturity with the publication of Descartes' La Géométrie in 1637. This work also gave the world the wonderfully fruitful marriage of algebra and geometry that we know today as analytic geometry (developed independently by Fermat and Descartes).

"By the end of the 17th century the deliberate use of symbolism - as opposed to incidental and accidental use - and the awareness of the power and generality it confers [had] entered mathematics." [Kline] But logical foundations for algebra comparable to those provided in geometry by Euclid were nonexistent.



Abstract Algebra

In the 19th century British mathematicians took the lead in the study of algebra. Attention turned to many "algebras" - that is, various sorts of mathematical objects (vectors, matrices, transformations, etc.) and various operations which could be carried out upon these objects. Thus the scope of algebra was expanded to the study of algebraic form and structure and was no longer limited to ordinary systems of numbers. The most significant breakthrough is perhaps the development of non-commutative algebras. These are algebras in which the operation of multiplication is not required to be commutative. (The first example of such an algebra were Hamilton's quaternions - 1843.)

Peacock (British, 1791-1858) was the founder of axiomatic thinking in arithmetic and algebra. For this reason he is sometimes called the "Euclid of Algebra." DeMorgan (British, 1806-1871) extended Peacock's work to consider operations defined on abstract symbols. Hamilton (Irish, 1805-1865) demonstrated that complex numbers could be expressed as a formal algebra with operations defined on ordered pairs of real numbers

( (a,b) + (c,d) = (a+b,c+d) ; (a,b)(c,d) = (ac-bd,ad+bc) ). Gibbs (American, 1839-1903) developed an algebra of vectors in three-dimensional space. Cayley (British, 1821-1895) developed an algebra of matrices (this is a non-commutative algebra).

The concept of a group (a set of operations with a single operation which satisfies three axioms) grew out of the work of several mathematicians. Perhaps the most important steps were by Galois (French, 1811-1832). By the use of this concept Galois was able to give a definitive answer to the broad question of which polynomial equations are solvable by algebraic operations. His work also led to the final, negative resolution of the three famous construction problems of antiquity - all were shown to be impossible under the restrictions imposed. The concept of a field was first made explicit by Dedekind in 1879.

Peano (Italian, 1858-1932) created an axiomatic treatment of the natural numbers in 1889. It was shown that all other numbers can be constructed in a formal way from the natural numbers. ("God created the natural numbers. Everything else is the work of man." - Kronecker)

Abstract algebra is a branch of mathematics in which researchers have been very active in the twentieth century.

 

You really love to put words in other people's mouths, don't you? I never said a word about Algebra being solely created by Muslims. You, on the other hand, lessened their contribution to that of 'jack shit'. Please learn to read my posts correctly so I can actually debate instead of correct your interpretations.

 

Is English not your first language, because it seems your having difficulty comprehending the written word. What part of, "Jack shit has come from them in 500 years" do you not understand? Perhaps you need a translator.

Unlike Muslims, at least European scientists have had the BALLS to risk life and limb by delving into the mysteries of the unknown, even that which is in direct conflict with religious conjecture.

 

So first you argue over Arabic influence in Algebra and now you say it was invalid to begin with? Sheesh, make up your mind. Why do you need to limit it to 500 years, if you have faith enough in your statements it shouldn't matter. But that's the thing, you know if it wasn't for Muslims we still wouldn't be where we are today. If it wasn't for Arabic numbers we'd still be using Roman numerals. Try multiplying MDMCXLVII by CCCLXXIII without converting them to Arabic numerals and see how fast you can do it. If you want to ignore Muslim advances in technology just because it hasn't happened in your chosen time frame then that's ignorance.

Edit: I just did a bit of research and the Arabic numeral system was introduced and replaced the Roman numeral system in the 1500's. This falls within your 500 year limit.

 

Sorry, I'm done with you. You obviously can't read.

Oh, and "Arabic" numerals were the brainchild of India, so don't even dare take credit for it.

 

Really now, what part exactly can I not read? And you are mistaken, the Hindu developed a place system similar to the Muslims but it is in fact the Arabic numeral and place system that are still in use today. If you believe I am wrong, please show me proof. I have proof from multiple universities, I'm sure you have the same, right?

 

I think we can both agree that the 9/11 attacks were NOT on the religious centres of America-- they were on the POLITICAL and ECONOMICAL and MILITARY centres (all of which depend heavily on the advancement of science and technology). Nobody ever hijacks a plane and flies it into a CHURCH!

The World Trade Centre isn't full of priests or ministers, now is it? Nope! It's full of rich bankers, traders, and other people who love to exploit poorer nations for their own profit. People whose careers depend on anticipating technological breakthroughs, corporate mergers, and, of course, various forms of political unrest throughout the world and then capitalizing on them!!! But, to be fair, the Pentagon and the White House are just brimming with people preaching peace and love, having massive singalongs on the White House lawn and throwing away all their earthly possessions!!!

I know it's a sensitive topic and I'm not blaming the victims here... it's never a good feeling when people lose their loved ones-- I'm just not sure that all the resulting anger is going into the right place!

Of course the 'retard' is going to bring religion into it... and pretend that everything is black and white and it's all very easy. Is he supposed to tell the masses that the reason so many people lost their lives is because they're addicted to their own irresponsible patterns of consumption and luxury??? That the reason they're being attacked is because of all their precious SUVs and RRSPs and high tech computers and billionaires?? Would YOU want to declare war on someone for THAT???

Of course not. Which is why it's all about religion and how crazy it makes people.

 

It’s not even black and white, it’s not even Blue and white with a star in the center! Yeah, It’s is definitely science that is to blame! I’m sure no terrorists were even mentioning Allah at all in their last few seconds before impact! The fact that New York is the second largest Jewish population center in the world had no influence on their being targeted. Nor the fact that many middle easterners are brainwashed to believe Jews control just about everything in America. And nothing at all to do with the US military tarnishing the sanctity of their holly lands with their military bases and EVIL western cultures forced upon their lands, going against their RELIGION! And nothing at all to do with most insulting thing imaginable to an extremist Muslim, supporting the democratic Israelis while condemning barbaric oppressive Muslim traditions.

Yeah, OBVIOUSLY, nothing at all to do with religion! In fact, they weren’t even terrorists so much as scientists conducting some crash test experiments. And now our lives are THAT much better now, thanks to science! Science will soon drive the human race to its sweet sweet eternal sleep and again, just remember that it has nothing at all to do with all the religious fanatics behind the wheel.

 

What planet are you from...?

How much science do you need to burn someone on a stake.
Science has invariably been USED by politics and religion to kill.
A gun CANNOT KILL. No more than a hammer.

but one wielding it can.

Occam

 

Misterrain

What a load of crap
For example, what tech breakthroughs occur in 'poor nations'
None.
What corporations exist in 'poor nations' ,, none.

Yes.. WE suck the life out of other countries
....resources

Dont you dare say you have nothing to do with it. the tv you watch and the car you drive are built from those resources.

Occam

 

You have just pulled the 'religion card'.

What a waste of sarcasm...

 

The United States is by far the most hated country. The reasons behind an attack could be numerous, but religion is not likely one of them. If it was a purely religous attack, why target the United States, the melting pot of all religion and ethnicities? Why not choose something of Jewish or Christian value? If a religious statement was to be made, I assure you it would have been targeted on something with religious meaning. Remember, the 9/11 attack was originally targeting the White House and Pentagon (or so the media says); you cannot logically argue that an attack on the either the White House or Pentagon would symbolize religion over government.

 

The problem is ignorance, not religion.

The problem is the behavior of those (Regardless of their Atheist or religious identity) who know even less about their "religion" than they do about high school math or their favorite band, and yet believe their beliefs justify their behavior. The problem is their intolerance, hatred, violence and destruction.

Each of the major religions is a body of knowledge that requires considerable study to truly understand what and why it actually is. And yet, I have been preached to by both "Fundamentalists" and "Atheists" who were ignorant of the "religion" about which they feel so strongly. These are the same people who are wise enough to know they are not qualified to perform surgery, argue law or land an airplane but do believe they have the definitive truth about the relationships between all humans and the divine.

Now, it is entirely your concern whether or not you want to study religion. But you should recognize the simple idea that judgement without knowledge is nothing but prejudice.

I am sure we all know better than prejudice.

Peace and Love