Math is an Ideology

Here is Dijkstra’s algorithm at work:

from https://www.quantamagazine.org/computer-scientists-establish-the-best-way-to-traverse-a-graph-20241025/

This has almost nothing to do with nature, regardless what level of abstraction you choose to strike it at.

Nature’s networks:

• not static graphs;
• balance multiple objectives (safety, adaptability, resource acquisition, speed, accuracy, etc.) meaning longer paths are often better;
• costs can be expected to be nonlinear (interactions between countless variables, with fluctuating conditions, availabilities and thresholds);
• prioritize redundancy for extremely high number of possibilities;
• learn through feedback mechanisms.

Dijkstra’s fails here. What about methods with increased approximation and probabilistic aspects? These are more computational than mathematical. In the extreme, any program applied will bear little resemblance to what we traditionally call “computation.”

Math becomes more relevant over time, not because it finds deeper connections to nature, but because we increasingly fashion our modern world around math’s game-like version of reality.

Math is a structured way to interpret reality and approach problems, not some culture-agnostic, valueless system of objectivity.

Math is an ideology.

P.S. no statement has been made as to whether this is good, bad or neutral.