|
|
Re: Is this an exceptionally hard set of questions to answer?
Posted:
Oct 6, 2002 4:40 PM
|
|
In article <vmhjr2-1CA950.23001205102002@netnews.attbi.com>,
Virgil <vmhjr2@attbi.com> wrote:
>In article <bh6vpucg2a0gm1dt2pln8t8g6tvbd3eg7v@4ax.com>,
> Alberto Moreira <junkmail@moreira.mv.com> wrote:
>> >Computation is a consequence of mathematics. It can be learned
>> >without learning the underlying mathematics, but since it is a
>> >consequence of the mathematics, it cannot be removed.
>> It's the other way around, mathematics is a consequence of
>> computation. Much mathematics exists basically to formalize the
>> intuitive concept of computation.
>Just as with the question of the chicken and the egg?
>Since mathematicaltheory feeds off the results of mathematical
>computations and vice-versa, neither can develop without support
>from the other.
Some mathematics was originally derived from observations
about computation, but it does not exist for this purpose.
The alphabet does not exist to codify ideas in strings of
characters; it does more than that.
>Thus one's answer to which is more fundamental is biased towards the
>one dearer to one's heart.
Which is more fundamental depends on which can be understood
without reference to the other, and which helps to understand
the other. Knowing how to calculate using strings of decimal
digits is of little, if any, help in mathematics.
--
This address is for information only. I do not claim that these views
are those of the Statistics Department or of Purdue University.
Herman Rubin, Deptartment of Statistics, Purdue University
hrubin@stat.purdue.edu Phone: (765)494-6054 FAX: (765)494-0558
|
|
