I imagine that whenever the mind perceives a mathematical idea, it makes contact with Plato's world of mathematical concepts... When mathematicians communicate, this is made possible by each one having a direct route to truth, the consciousness of each being in a position to perceive mathematical truths directly, through the process of 'seeing'.

It may well be there is something else going on in the brain that we don't have an inkling of at the moment.

We have a closed circle of consistency here: the laws of physics produce complex systems, and these complex systems lead to consciousness, which then produces mathematics, which can then encode in a succinct and inspiring way the very underlying laws of physics that gave rise to it.

our present picture of physical reality, particularly in relation to the nature of time, is due for a grand shake up

Some years ago, I wrote a book called the Emperor’s New Mind and that book was describing a point of view I had about consciousness and why it was not something that comes about from complicated calculations.

Consciousness ... is the phenomenon whereby the universe's very existence is made known.

But I think it is a serious issue to wonder about the other platonic absolutes of say beauty and morality.