[lit-ideas] Re: math question
- From: Omar Kusturica <omarkusto@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2012 09:19:41 -0700 (PDT)
I understand that someone once wrote a Ph.D. dissertation in mathematics to
prove that 2+2=4 and that he managed to prove it at length. I don't know any
details though.
In Orwell's 1984, the proposition is treated as an example of something that is
self-evidently true.
O.K.
________________________________
From: Adriano Palma <Palma@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, April 9, 2012 6:13 PM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: math question
Paul Stone has a nice way of putting a simple, elementary point.
There is no "use" in asking "why is there an infinity of primes" or "why are
there infinitely many perfects?" (note before the idiots scream, it is not
known whether there are infinitely many perfects, for those who forgot their
school,
6 and 28 are perfect, 27 is not perfect, while 313 and 317 are prime.....)
there is no way. once discovered, it is a fact.
I take it to be the highest point if idiocy to ask "why" earth has one planet
or why English does not have phonetic clicks.
There are some facts, a subset of those, are mathematical facts.
Any form of Sokal game cuts no ice whatsoever, if you found that contrary to
true belief there is the largest prime, show it.
best regards
>>> Paul Stone <pastone@xxxxxxxxx> 09/04/2012 06:01 PM >>>
I have to agree with Adriano... there is nothing mysterious, or even
explainable about mathematics. It just IS! You can tell me WHY 2+2=4 REALLY.
Except to describe the fact that it does.
just my 1+1 cents.
p
On Mon, Apr 9, 2012 at 2:15 AM, Adriano Palma <Palma@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
the sequence has nothing surprising (take a look at terry tao's work if you
like surprises)
>
>
>? נכון >>> Julie Krueger <juliereneb@xxxxxxxxx> 09/04/2012 01:19 AM >>>
>
>So from all this I take it that no one can, in fact, explain the why of the
>math sequence?
>
>Julie Krueger
>
>
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