Mathematics And Nature

It is one thing to marvel at the mathematical complexity of nature, but to be surprised at the fact that mathematics, which is nothing but numeric logic, governs the whole of nature betrays a deep and asinine philosophical confusion.  A right understanding of reason reveals that there is nothing surprising about this at all, as any part of nature, from the smallest quantum particles to the the largest environmental structures, can only be in submission to the laws of logic.  Furthermore, scientific inquiries are completely gratuitous when it comes to proving this; anyone can quickly demonstrate these truths to himself or herself while merely sitting in an isolated room.

There is a simple explanation of why no one needs to conduct scientific investigations to realize that it is impossible for mathematical truths to not impose themselves on every component of the external world: logical truths are necessary truths.  A thing can only be what it is; one object can only be one object.  There is no such thing as an alogical or amathematical aspect of nature--this is not the case because no such thing has ever been observed, but because an object not governed by the laws of logic is impossible due to the very concept containing an inherent contradiction.  Anyone who supposes that there could be an aspect of the natural world that is free from the constraints of logic (which include mathematical constraints as a subcategory) is in error because they have not recognized that necessary truths cannot be anything short of universal.

The external world in its entirety must be governed by all logical and mathematical truths because there is no other possibility.  The intersection of mathematical facts and the natural world might be subjectively exciting for some, but there is nothing about this intersection that defies reason.  It is reason that makes this intersection necessary to begin with.  Science can be used to identify mathematical patterns in nature, but the patterns themselves are not rooted in science.  Scientific analysis of the physical universe relies on both the metaphysical existence of logic and the observer's comprehension of logic, whereas logic does not hinge upon science in any way.  Thus, there is nothing unusual or shocking about the fact that nature is completely governed by mathematics.

At best, the person who denies this fails to rightly comprehend the basic laws of logic that ground math.  At worst, the person who denies this might invoke a completely unrelated subject as if necessary truths exist only because they are contingent on something else, such as the existence of God.  The uncaused cause is responsible for the existence of nature itself, but it cannot be responsible for the existence of mathematical truths, since they are just logical facts that pertain to numbers.  Logical truths exist because of their own intrinsic necessity, for they would exist even if God himself ceased to exist--which is by no means a logical impossibility.  Nature's submission to mathematics, therefore, is not random, but necessary.  Nothing could change it.