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Sam_Jack_ t1_j1vb0xv wrote

Reply to comment by daikatana in do we really believe aliens can decode the golden records by Calm-Confidence8429

It's more of a language than anything, you speak a language that has a certain structure let's say english but if you don't know chinese you can't really understand it, do you?

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Pas7alavista t1_j1vz649 wrote

It's not a valid comparison because mathematics is based on statements that are self evidently true. The language we use to describe those truths is completely independent from the meaning behind the symbols.

A sufficiently advanced species is more than likely going to have a syntax that is completely alien to us. However, they would certainly be describing many of the same things that we do.

Think about something fundamental like a circle. I don't care what language or symbols you use to describe it, because if you gave me enough time I would be able to tell exactly what you mean. The concept and meaning behind a circle exists independently of the syntax used to describe it.

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Sam_Jack_ t1_j1wz8sm wrote

But you understand that circle with your human logics, you can't see it through smell for example

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Pas7alavista t1_j1y0uc4 wrote

Logic is universal it has nothing to do with being a human.

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Sam_Jack_ t1_j1y5eqz wrote

Still, it's a human construct, let's not be so cocky about the way we understand what we understand

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Pas7alavista t1_j21gyxh wrote

Pick any tautology and write it down in any language you choose. That statement will be always be true regardless of what symbols you use to represent it.

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