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Do they use a similar terminology in mathematics when talking about proofs? Software solutions don't seem that much different in regards to solving specific pro

Do they use a similar terminology in mathematics when talking about proofs? Software solutions don't seem that much different in regards to solving specific problems.

gregknicholson 8y ago
This question — is maths discovered or invented? — was discussed at length in a recent BBC series: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bn9dth https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bn9dth
- darkerside 8y ago
  I wonder if there are languages where there is no real dichotomy between these two terms
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - wlib 8y ago
    "Invent" comes from Latin and simply means "find". If you think about it, no matter what language, there is no fine line. An invention is just a discovery, but we typically use the word to describe a very specific discovery.
    - wallace_f 8y ago
      Well I always thought there was a fine line: an invention must be brought into existance witj intelligent design (probably by a human), and a discovery exists naturally.
    - darkerside 8y ago
      The English language often has multiple synonyms with a difference in connotation. Discover and invent may be synonyms (although many would disagree), but everybody would agree at least the connotation is different. My hypothesis above was that there may be languages where that connotation does not exist.
- wallace_f 8y ago
  a YT link to ep 1: https://youtu.be/cyvDG8qjt-M https://youtu.be/cyvDG8qjt-M
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
inopinatus 8y ago
All matter is information, and all information is functional. Therefore perception is the lazy evaluation of the universe, and discovery is the fountain of invention.
mttyng 8y ago
That depends heavily on your philosophical interpretation of mathematics: Platonism vs. Formalism Someone linked the BBC video, which is great, but there’s also a wonderful book that discusses this and many other facets of mathematical philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-about-Mathematics-Philosophy/dp/0192893068/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546551558&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=philosophy+of+math+shapiro&dpPl=1&dpID=41a3oT4rENL&ref=plSrch https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-about-Mathematics-Philosophy... (Sorry for the link spew) I highly recommend that book to anyone remotely interested in the field.
- kiliantics 8y ago
  Penrose also dedicates a chapter to this in The Road to Reality
jessriedel 8y ago
Not sure if it was rhetorical, but to answer your actual question: Mathematicians often say they "discovered" or "found" a proof. I've never heard one say they "invented" a proof, although they might talk about "building" a formalism or framework.

Do they use a similar terminology in mathematics when talking about proofs? Software solutions don't seem that much different in regards to solving specific problems.

gregknicholson 8y ago

This question — is maths discovered or invented? — was discussed at length in a recent BBC series: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bn9dth https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bn9dth

darkerside 8y ago
I wonder if there are languages where there is no real dichotomy between these two terms
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- wlib 8y ago
  "Invent" comes from Latin and simply means "find". If you think about it, no matter what language, there is no fine line. An invention is just a discovery, but we typically use the word to describe a very specific discovery.
  - wallace_f 8y ago
    Well I always thought there was a fine line: an invention must be brought into existance witj intelligent design (probably by a human), and a discovery exists naturally.
  - darkerside 8y ago
    The English language often has multiple synonyms with a difference in connotation. Discover and invent may be synonyms (although many would disagree), but everybody would agree at least the connotation is different. My hypothesis above was that there may be languages where that connotation does not exist.
wallace_f 8y ago
a YT link to ep 1: https://youtu.be/cyvDG8qjt-M https://youtu.be/cyvDG8qjt-M

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

inopinatus 8y ago

All matter is information, and all information is functional. Therefore perception is the lazy evaluation of the universe, and discovery is the fountain of invention.

mttyng 8y ago

That depends heavily on your philosophical interpretation of mathematics: Platonism vs. Formalism Someone linked the BBC video, which is great, but there’s also a wonderful book that discusses this and many other facets of mathematical philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-about-Mathematics-Philosophy/dp/0192893068/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546551558&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=philosophy+of+math+shapiro&dpPl=1&dpID=41a3oT4rENL&ref=plSrch https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-about-Mathematics-Philosophy... (Sorry for the link spew) I highly recommend that book to anyone remotely interested in the field.

kiliantics 8y ago
Penrose also dedicates a chapter to this in The Road to Reality

jessriedel 8y ago

Not sure if it was rhetorical, but to answer your actual question: Mathematicians often say they "discovered" or "found" a proof. I've never heard one say they "invented" a proof, although they might talk about "building" a formalism or framework.