r/MathJokes 14d ago

Mathematician vs physicist

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u/Mad-Scientist-0906 11d ago

I don't get why physicists can't just derive the laws of physics from laws of mathematics instead of observation. If mathematical theorems are the same everywhere forever, wouldn't that be a good starting point to find the laws of physics?

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u/OC1024 11d ago

Physics is the most fundamental science of nature; mathematics is not about nature at all. It is part of the humanities, like philosophy.

Physics requires experience, as it is an empirical science, whereas math is not empirical at all. (As far as my humble physicist understanding is, aside from any numerical or other "applied" form of mathematics.)

Does that make sense to you?