Footnote On The Danger Of Overextending Mathematics Where It Can't Go

HISTORY PROVIDES an excellent example of the stupidity of trying to treat more complex life mathematically or, rather, "scientifically" and, I would point out, the frequency with which such a treatment will, oddly, enough, result in results which the "scientist" so doing will find agrees with what they wanted to find EXACTLY IN THAT POPULAR PHILOSOPHER OF POLITICAL-ECONOMIC DEPRAVITY, THOMAS HOBBES.   

When he stupidly claimed to publish a proof of how to square the circle and got into a quarter century long brawl with a real mathematical genius who mopped the floor with him but who, not popularizing a particularly brutal materialistic philosophy of use to modern tyrants, despots, businessmen, billionaires, depraved university scribblers, why Hobbes is still cited while he isn't remembered much today, The Reverend John Wallis.

Respected mathematician John Wallis was among those who didn’t like Hobbes or his ideas. Wallis might have kept his contempt to himself. But then Hobbes dabbled in Wallis’ domain–mathematics. Euclid’s Elements– a marvelous work of pure deductive reasoning– captivated Hobbes. So much so, it even influenced his political philosophy. Hobbes wanted to reason his way to truth- just like mathematicians a lofty goal, even if he couldn’t possibly achieve it.

But where Hobbes got into trouble was trying to solve real, bona fide mathematical problems. Hobbes claimed he could “square a circle”: using only a compass and straight edge, construct a square and a circle with the same area. The problem was first posed by Euclid, but he couldn’t solve it. Many people played with it over the centuries. Many people offered false proofs. Turns out it’s not possible to square a circle. Mathematicians proved this in the late nineteenth century.

So Hobbes was wrong. And the mathematician Wallis tore into him – not just Hobbes’ math, but the “poisonous filth” he “vomited.” Wallis dissected Hobbes’ arguments, viciously ridiculing them one by one. He savored showing the world “how little [Hobbes] understands the mathematics from which he takes his courage.”

Hobbes returned the favor, attempting to refute Wallis’ claims and referring to Wallis’ writings as “mere ignorance and gibberish.” Thus began one of the great feuds in the history of science. Name calling, slander. The bickering continued off and on until Hobbes’ death almost a quarter century later.

My conclusion is that once he stupidly put his foot in it, Hobbes didn't dare to admit to error BECAUSE, LIKE THE FAR MORE LIKABLE SPINOZA, HIS ENTIRE SYSTEM DEPENDED ON BOTH THE PERFECTION OF MATHEMATICS AND ITS ENTIRE POTENCY IN EVERYTHING.  He knew that to find even one thing it couldn't do would be to endanger his entire system.  And I've always thought he was one of the biggest assholes in the history of Western philosophy who encouraged even bigger ones outside of it in real life.