Rob Freeman wrote:
> On Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 5:58 PM, John F. Sowa <sowa@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> Paola, Avril, Rob, Ed, Rob,
>>
>> First of all, it is essential to distinguish empirical sciences from
>> pure mathematics. In empirical sciences, the ultimate test is agreement
>> of predictions with observations. Mathematics, however, is not an
>> empirical science.
>>
>
> Greg Chaitin might have issue with that statement. He wants us to
> accept a certain amount (Omega?) of maths is random, admitting of no
> proof but observation (Chaitin: "Is mathematics quasi-empirical?")
> (01)
One of my professors once commented that there is an empirical branch of
mathematics -- number theory. It must be empirical, said he, because no
result generalizes. :-) (02)
-Ed (03)
--
Edward J. Barkmeyer Email: edbark@xxxxxxxx
National Institute of Standards & Technology
Manufacturing Systems Integration Division
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8263 Tel: +1 301-975-3528
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8263 FAX: +1 301-975-4694 (04)
"The opinions expressed above do not reflect consensus of NIST,
and have not been reviewed by any Government authority." (05)
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