Prove it. Even if you did, you would still have to wrestle with this: the "number one" is an idea; and ideas do not have empirical reality. They exist only in your mind--not in the external reality.
I love hearing from Grendel! If nothing else he is very thoughtful indeed!
Math is pure logic. Which is why I probably love it (though there are some that remind me that I am not very good at it!)
Let's try this again and you tell me where I am wrong.
I exist do you deny this? Either something exists or it does not exist. I can prove something exists but I cannot prove that something does not exist.
It matters not whether I am an illusion or whether I am actually running in a computer program (such as the matrix) or not.
I think..therefore I am.
I exist (it matters not where I exist).
the number one exists (whether in my mind or physically it does not matter!)
I don't need faith to "believe" this. It CAN be proved (even if only in my mind if that is all that is)
It is indisputable and does not require ANY faith.
And really, if we do not exist physically and we are but a dream (or virtual) then none of it really matters anyway does it?
The Pathos/Palin comment was just a blog-digg...so sorry for that! This is a political blog after all. You are actually pretty logical and rational. And I like that! However, I do think you rely on Pathos too much. You have to start with some known value to build upon. To me that needs logic not faith. So, we start with Logos and proceed into Pathos after agreeing on the basis of reality (if we can).
However, if we cannot agree on the basis of reality there is no basis for discussion. Then it is indeed all "faith" at least on your part.
If we cannot agree that the number one "exists" (whether physically or virtually) then we cannot proceed onto whether it is true that 2 also exists.
I am pretty sure that it has been proved that 1 "exists" and I don't need a "one" to measure another "one" against. see Peano Axioms
"One" is some-thing and no-thing is "zero" (or whatever you wish to call "it". You can say I have "faith" that one exists. I would say that I can prove that the number "one" exists within the logic and understanding of the nature of this Universe.
I really still don't see where "faith" is involved in this understanding at all.
We have had this Faith vs logic discussion before. It is a good one!
Cheers to you Grendel!