Re: MATH/COMP/PHIL: "Omega Man"

From: J. R. Molloy (jr@shasta.com)
Date: Mon Apr 02 2001 - 11:16:23 MDT


> OK. I give up on this. I have piddled with such unproved hypothesis
> myself and I certainly do not believe that they are unprovable or
> something to be taken on faith.
>
> - samantha

Marcus Chown deserves a reprimand for wasting your time. The real test of an
hypothesis is not whether it can be proved (then it wouldn't be an
hypothesis), but whether it can be used. The Chown hypothesis is that math
requires our "trust." Besides being useless, this hypothesis fails to
demonstrate any news worthiness. Most of us accept that 1 + 1 = 2 (why,
because it works), without writing a new version of Principia Mathematica. The
"Omega Man" proves that the world outside mailing lists also has trouble
maintaining adequate signal to noise ratios.

"So what?"
--Omega Man's sister, Alpha Woman

τΏτ

Stay hungry (but not famished),

--J. R.

Useless hypotheses:
 consciousness, phlogiston, philosophy, vitalism, mind, free will, qualia,
analog computing, Omega Man

"Everything that can happen has already happened an infinite number of times,
and shall continue to do so forever, because nothing can prevent it."
--Dr. TOE



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