Author: Bob Durrett
Date: 15:59:20 02/12/04
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On February 12, 2004 at 18:42:13, Dan Andersson wrote: > First of all I must state that Mathematics is not a branch of Science. It is >rather like Logic and Philosophy. >>Math, as I see it, is a preoccupation with proofs and the use of proofs to >>construct mathematical systems like boolian algebra. At it's foundation, all >>mathematical systems are based on unproven assumptions. If one or more of these >>assumptions is proven wrong, the whole system collapses like a house of cards >>when one pulls out one of the bottom cards. >> > That is a backwards take on Math, IMO. Mathematics is based on Axioms. And >different sets Axioms lead lead to different branches of Mathematics. Axioms are >the starting points of any branch of Mathematics. And are as such beyond proof >or disproof. And merely the start of a logical system. > The interesting qustion is usually if a given Theorem is provable under a set >of Axioms. One example would be Geometry where different formulations of the >Parallel axiom leads to Euclid and non-Euclid geometries. And despite the fact >that these Geometries differ in Axioms all of them are equally valid systems and >all have been applied in Science. > >MvH Dan Andersson Sounds good, . . . sort of. You are putting a "positive spin" on mathematics and I guess I was putting a "negative spin" on it. Spins or not, mathematics may not be relevant to the issue of "where do chess algorithms come from" IMHO. Just as one might ask where algorithms originate, one could also ask about the "axioms." There have been some smart people in this World. Some were smart enough to make something out of the axioms and some were smart enough to see the axioms in the first place. I once had a supervisor who believed that evolution is real and is the process whereby all life is degrading from the initial creation. If he's right, then there will soon no longer be anybody smart enough to find new axioms. For now, there are those in sub-atomic physics and astronomy, but what about in computer chess? Bob D.
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