The Physical, Mental, And Platonic Mathematical Worlds Viewed Through Systemic Functional Linguistics

Penrose (2004: 17-18):

Thus, mathematical existence is different not only from physical existence but also from an existence that is assigned by our mental perceptions. Yet there is a deep and mysterious connection with each of those other two forms of existence: the physical and the mental. In Fig. 1.3, I have schematically indicated all of these three forms of existence — the physical, the mental, and the Platonic mathematical — as entities belonging to three separate ‘worlds’, drawn schematically as spheres. The mysterious connections between the worlds are also indicated, where in drawing the diagram I have imposed upon the reader some of my beliefs, or prejudices, concerning these mysteries.

Blogger Comments:

From the perspective of Systemic Functional Linguistic Theory, experience is construed as two distinct domains of first-order meaning (phenomena) (i) the material ('physical existence') and the relational, and (ii) the mental and the verbal (consciousness).

The latter domain constitutes the symbolic processing that creates second-order meaning (metaphenomena) through projection. From this perspective, the Platonic mathematical world is second-order meaning that symbolic processing creates through projection.