Numbers: Discovered or Invented?
A Philosophy in the Community event with mathematics professor Derek Postnikoff
Date: Friday, March. 14
Time: 7 pm
Location: The Refinery
Emmanuel Anglican (formerly St. James) Church Basement
607 Dufferin Avenue
This event is free and open to the public.
About this event
Our world is saturated with numbers and we live our lives by them, from the time our alarm clock wakes us each day to the sheep we count as we fall asleep. Numbers are so ubiquitous, useful, and reliable that most of us generally take them for granted and rarely pause to reflect on their mysterious nature. Do numbers exist in the natural world, independent of humans, just waiting to be discovered? Or are numbers human creations, invented by clever people? This is a longstanding controversy, and no proposed resolution has yet achieved consensus. In celebration of the International Day of Mathematics, this talk will provide an accessible investigation into the nature of numbers – no advanced mathematical knowledge required!
Upcoming Events
Flutter by Butterfly: A Tribute to Kenny Wheeler
May 23, 2025
The SJO, led by USask music professor Dean McNeill, pays tribute to one of the most unique Canadian voices in jazz
Kenny Wheeler-Inspired Jazz Composition Symposium
May 21-24, 2025
The SJO, directed by School for the Arts professor Dean McNeill, hosts four days of concerts, lectures and discussions
Statistical Society of Canada Annual Meeting
May 25-28, 2025
USask is hosting the 2025 annual meeting of the SSC