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I think the point was that mathematics relies on a small set of postulates from which you can derive everything else. Changing a postulate results in a separate
by mden 13y ago
I think the point was that mathematics relies on a small set of postulates from which you can derive everything else. Changing a postulate results in a separate system. The same is true in programming languages, but the number of postulates is very large compared to mathematics to the point that their utility is greatly reduced. And also there are so many languages each with its own postulate set that it's really inelegant when compared to mathematics.
Another way to put it is, learning the postulates for langx doesn't provide enough value for many to be worth doing.
- pandaman 13y ago>I think the point was that mathematics relies on a small set of postulates from which you can derive everything else. And I agree, this is one of the assertions my opponent has made. I did not go to refute it because, if not outright false, it's disingenuous. >Another way to put it is, learning the postulates for langx doesn't provide enough value for many to be worth doing. This is also true, same goes for everything else. I make money using C - I learn C's postulates. If somebody paid me to use topology - I'd learned topology postulates. What would be stupid if I were paid to use topology but said: "it's hard to learn and it makes no sense for me because I don't like mathematics and don't know any other math discipline so why would I all of sudden learn topology's postulate when I can copy formulas from the net and ask questions on manifoldoverflow.com?"
- pessimizer 13y agoTrying to derive C from its postulates is like trying to derive 70s television from its postulates. Most of C is an accident of history.
- pandaman 13y agoI am not sure what is your point now. Are you aware that most of the math is way older than C?