Science, Mathematics, and Beauty

This talk will deal with a number of examples of the intriguing beauty and power of mathematics. Mathematics is more than a language and a tool of logic. When used to describe the physics of one system it is surprising how many other disciplines reflect the same principles so that the form of the equations can be similar. But we need to get underneath this and start with an even more fundamental concept concerning number itself. We will consider firstly the nature of abstract thought – the reality / ontology of logic. We will then consider the nature of mathematics and its connection to reality. We will then examine the language of mathematics and show that the only consistent reality that is coherent and works in science is one which accepts mind as more than matter and that abstract truth, meaning and purpose are realities which are transcendent to the physical Universe.