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
Bateman Lecture: The Climate Crisis in Canadian Fiction
Mar 5, 2026
Dr. Wendy Roy (PhD) explores how Canadian authors are grappling with environmental change
Career Options for Students of English
Mar 5, 2026
Thinking about a career in English? Explore all paths at the Career Options event
The Lives of Fritz Haber and of International Law: Entwined Tales of Tragedy and Irony
Mar 6, 2026
This lecture will be presented by Mark A. Drumbl, Class of 1975 Alumni Professor at Washington and Lee University