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Single Idea 10885

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 2. Proof in Mathematics ]

Full Idea

Mathematicians are uncomfortable with computerised proofs because a 'good' proof should do more than convince us that a certain statement is true. It should also explain why the statement in question holds.

Gist of Idea

Computer proofs don't provide explanations

Source

Leon Horsten (Philosophy of Mathematics [2007], §5.3)

Book Ref

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.26


The 4 ideas from 'Philosophy of Mathematics'

The concept of 'ordinal number' is set-theoretic, not arithmetical [Horsten]
Predicative definitions only refer to entities outside the defined collection [Horsten]
A theory is 'categorical' if it has just one model up to isomorphism [Horsten]
Computer proofs don't provide explanations [Horsten]