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The problem with all these proofs is that it'd take someone who already has a Math PhD several years of full-time effort to understand the proof. Because these

by fsk 11y ago

The problem with all these proofs is that it'd take someone who already has a Math PhD several years of full-time effort to understand the proof. Because these famous problems were solved, there is now increased demand for Math PhDs with that specialty. How do you know if the proof is valid, or if they're just scratching each others' backs and pretending they're all brilliant? You might say "Wait, a fraud that big couldn't happen." Just like one of the biggest investment funds couldn't be a Ponzi Scam? (Madoff) I.e., the few Mathematicians who know enough to be able to check the full proof might be doing the equivalent of this guy: http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/05/how-a-grad-student-uncovered-a-huge-fraud.html http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/05/how-a-grad-student-unco...

Tloewald 11y ago
This isn't really a comparable example. We are talking about the most famous recent piece of math that made headlines all over the world first when the proof was published, again when issues were found with the proof, and again when those issues were addressed. Vs a "world famous in Poland" study in what not even barely qualifies as a science. No one in bleeding edge science can fully grasp bleeding edge work outside their specialty, but high profIle stuff like this gets a lot of attention.
Beltiras 11y ago
The only (gaping) hole in your conspiracy is that you get points for proving anyone wrong in academia (even yourself). A conspiracy about mathematic proofs sounds about as ridiculous as an honest segment of The O'Reilly Factor.
raverbashing 11y ago
Yes, they might. But then this gets published and other people could point their mistakes. And then it's not only about what the authors got wrong, but also what the reviewers let slip. And while the number of mathematicians that can understand the proof is low, it is > 1
impendia 11y ago
> How do you know if the proof is valid, or if they're just scratching each others' backs and pretending they're all brilliant? (Professional mathematician here) Such a conspiracy could never happen. Mathematicians are, in general, scrupulously honest to a fault. There are exceptions of course, but such a scam would need everybody's cooperation. Moreover, if you have tenure then you would have no incentive to participate in such a fraud (even to the extent of keeping quiet about it). Once you get tenure you are basically working for pride and for the sheer joy of solving problems, and maintaining a big lie would do nothing for either.
- Confusion 11y ago
  I would like to both broaden and qualify that statement: scientists are, in general, scrupulously honest where it concerns their work, probably because their work is about 'truth'. Nevertheless, scientists are still people and many people lie and cheat when it suits them.

by fsk 11y ago

Tloewald 11y ago

This isn't really a comparable example. We are talking about the most famous recent piece of math that made headlines all over the world first when the proof was published, again when issues were found with the proof, and again when those issues were addressed. Vs a "world famous in Poland" study in what not even barely qualifies as a science. No one in bleeding edge science can fully grasp bleeding edge work outside their specialty, but high profIle stuff like this gets a lot of attention.

Beltiras 11y ago

The only (gaping) hole in your conspiracy is that you get points for proving anyone wrong in academia (even yourself). A conspiracy about mathematic proofs sounds about as ridiculous as an honest segment of The O'Reilly Factor.

raverbashing 11y ago

Yes, they might. But then this gets published and other people could point their mistakes. And then it's not only about what the authors got wrong, but also what the reviewers let slip. And while the number of mathematicians that can understand the proof is low, it is > 1

impendia 11y ago

> How do you know if the proof is valid, or if they're just scratching each others' backs and pretending they're all brilliant? (Professional mathematician here) Such a conspiracy could never happen. Mathematicians are, in general, scrupulously honest to a fault. There are exceptions of course, but such a scam would need everybody's cooperation. Moreover, if you have tenure then you would have no incentive to participate in such a fraud (even to the extent of keeping quiet about it). Once you get tenure you are basically working for pride and for the sheer joy of solving problems, and maintaining a big lie would do nothing for either.

Confusion 11y ago
I would like to both broaden and qualify that statement: scientists are, in general, scrupulously honest where it concerns their work, probably because their work is about 'truth'. Nevertheless, scientists are still people and many people lie and cheat when it suits them.