“Mathematics is objective.” “Just show me the numbers and then we will have an answer.”  “You can’t argue with the data.”  “The numbers don’t lie.”  “The numbers are neutral.”

How often have you heard one of the above phrases or something like it? If you have, then you have likely stumbled across the wonderful - if often misunderstood - world of Mathematics. In our society we often hear the idea that Mathematics is objective and untarnished by “subjective opinion”. This is often said in an effort to remove Mathematics from critique and to place it on an incorruptible plane.

This perceived neutrality and incorruptibility has led to it being referred to as the ‘queen of Sciences’.  Does Mathematics deserve this kind of holy treatment? The answer to this is clearly “no.”  Mathematics is not neutral or incorruptible. It is in fact highly influenced by worldview perspectives and is regularly used as a tool to support particular points of view. Consider the following quotes:

Mathematical objects exist in a realm transcending human experience – Plato

1 + 1 = 2 is, like all truths of Mathematics, an eternal and necessary truth, which would not be affected even if the whole world were destroyed and there were no one to count and no objects to be counted - Gottfried Leibniz

Mathematics is the alphabet of the universe - Galileo Galilei

Mathematical symbols stand for nothing ... 1 + 1 = 2 is merely a tool or a formula that happens to work – John Dewey

Each of the above quotes creates mathematical meaning out of their own worldview. For some like Plato and Leibniz, Mathematics is transcendent, immutable and eternal. This is clearly still a popular understanding.

For others like Dewey, mathematical meaning is simply a construction by mathematicians and remains useful only as long as it holds meaning for the people who use it.

A Christian worldview would suggest that generally our response to Mathematics is closest to Galileo. We see Mathematics as being like a language that is used to describe God’s creation. It is a rich and glorious language that God has given to us to help us describe His creation. Mathematics is not consistent because of itself, rather it is consistent because God is consistent and His creational laws are consistent, Mathematics is complex because God is complex. Mathematics continues to evolve as we uncover and unfold more of God’s creation.

At Green Point Christian College, we endeavour to help students understand not only the skills of Mathematics, but also the purpose and beauty of Mathematics - as it points us towards the Creator, gives us a glimpse of His steadfastness, and the language of His beautiful, intricate creation.

Joel van Bentum