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The drawing random letters is true for the lambda in lambda-calculus, but not true for (at least some) combinators. e.g. the K combinator derives from Konstanzf
by bidirectional 5y ago
The drawing random letters is true for the lambda in lambda-calculus, but not true for (at least some) combinators. e.g. the K combinator derives from Konstanzfunktion, and I from Identitätsfunktion[1]. So I do think it is an interesting question why Y, and we can't just assume it's arbitrary.
[1] https://www.johndcook.com/blog/2014/02/06/schonfinkel-combinators/ https://www.johndcook.com/blog/2014/02/06/schonfinkel-combin...
- amelius 5y agoThen perhaps this reply comes closest to the truth: > Y because the letter Y has one stem which splits in two, just like what the function does. That’s probably the reason, or at least that’s how I look at it.