2 ms·
On some level, that's sort of like asking whether we can be 100% sure that the solution to a math problem is correct. I mean, I'm pretty sure that 2+3=5, but w
by elihu 5y ago
On some level, that's sort of like asking whether we can be 100% sure that the solution to a math problem is correct. I mean, I'm pretty sure that 2+3=5, but what if I made a mistake somewhere? What if I'm falling prey to some cognitive bias that makes me blind to certain math errors? What if all of humanity is wrong about this math problem?
If we can be convinced that we're 100% sure that 2+3=5, then what about a more complicated problem? What's the most complex math problem we can be sure about? What if we have to use a computer to check its correctness?
(In general, I think it's usually good enough to say we're pretty sure something is correct if we have some solid basis for believing that it is. I'm okay with being 99.99% sure that 2+3=5, but in the world of software "I'm 50% sure this software is correct" is a standard that most software I use on a daily basis fails to meet.)