Abstract
We suggest it's entirely reasonable that mathematics is a useful tool for describing physical entities and their evolution. We consider mathematics as fundamentally digitised geometry, so well able to approximate natures 'non-linearity'. As Galileo pointed out; “He who undertakes to deal with questions of natural sciences without the help of geometry is attempting the infeasible.” Mathematics can seemingly predict any findings to some finite limit. However, we argue that algorithms do not automatically model natures mechanisms, and that assuming it does so hampers improved understanding of nature. We cite various tricks which mislead us, not the fault of mathematics itself but of it's poor application due to our limited conceptual understanding. Reliance on mathematics as the 'language of physics' became pragmatic necessity when we were unable to classically rationalise findings. Many now believe no classical rationale is possible at quantum scales. John Bell describing that view as 'sleepwalking.' We suggest problems increase as improved data gathering has produced 'information overload', physics is divided into increasingly disparate specialisms and quantum computers are still theory. We consider if there's a greater potential for complex problem solving using other methods and the organic computational systems in our heads with abilities different to computers. We identify that better mathematical formalisms may also emerge. We show by example using a pair of 2-ply red and green socks and the '3-filter' anomaly how we can be tricked. Brackets and 'bracketing' are cited to illustrate the problem and a solution.
Peter Jackson