What is mathematics to animals?

In a playfully serious volume of verses by Eugene Ostashevsky we meet his alter ego, the "new philosopher" DJ Spinoza.  With the intelligence and bravery of the other philosopher-Spinoza (Baruch / Benedict, 1632 - 1677), Ostachevsky's Spinoza pokes a bit of fun at things that might be taken too seriously -- such as logic or mathematics or . . .  

The Undecidability of DJ Spinoza     by Eugene Ostashevsky

The formula for the existence of DJ Spinoza

cannot be demonstrated within the bounds of this calculus.

Luckily, the formula for the non-existence of DJ Spinoza

cannot be demonstrated within this calculus either.

Whew! That was a close call,

thinks DJ Spinoza.

from Epithalamion            for Dario

The mathematician says to the auto mechanic:

"Aristotle in an uncharacteristic moment

Calls mathematics the study of beauty.

Of series divergent and convergent, only the convergent can

     serve as the foundation of number.

from Act One  of  Infinite Recursor or the Bride of DJ Spinoza

The bride of DJ Spinoza

has an absolute cleavage 

like that between natural numbers and Aleph-null

from P or not P

4.

What is mathematics to animals?  Is P or ~P true

for all animals? Does 1+1=2

for all animals?  Is there a me and you

for all animals?  What is

mathematics to animals?  What are animals

to mathematics?  Take away mathematics

and there are no animals.  Take away animals

and there is no mathematics.

The animals gather for a concert of mathematics.  We sail past them.

They are capable of love.  We sail past them.

from Alphabet for Tamar

A is for Axiom

that proved arbitrary.

B is for Binomial

whose terms never vary.

C is for Circumference

that goes around and around.

D is for Derivative

left to lie on the ground.

      . . .

These stanzas have been selected from Eugene Ostashevsky's collection, The Life and Opinions of DJ Spinoza, with drawings by Eugene Timerman (Ugly Duckling Presse, Eastern European Poets Series #23, 2008).  Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) was a lens grinder and a private scholar.  He was expelled from the Jewish community for his views.