THE COMPUTER EXPERIMENT - THE SOURCE OF MATHEMATICAL KNOWLEDGE

• Authors: Wojtowicz K.
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

In the article, the status of the computer proof of the four-color theorem is discussed. After a short survey of contemporary literature, the general status of the mathematical proof (as an idealized logical procedure versus a part of mathematical practice) is discussed. The solution of the problem of the computer proof, which amounts to accepting the four-color theorem as a new axiom justified by the computer experiment, is considered (and rejected). Finally, the author argues that the best explanation is offered within the theoretical framework of quasi-empiricism.

Keywords

EN

COMPUTER EXPERIMENT; COMPUTER PROOF; PHILOSOPHY OF MATHEMATICS

Discipline

• PHILOSOPHY: PHILOSOPHY

• Publisher: Polska Akademia Umiejętności / Uniwersytet Jagielloński
• Journal: Kwartalnik Filozoficzny
• Year: 2008
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 87-104
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Wojtowicz K.

• K. Wojtowicz, Uniwersytet Warszawski, Instytut Filozofii, ul.Krakowskie Przedmiescie 3, 00-927 Warszawa, Poland

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

08PLAAAA04568802