Re: Epistemology 201: The Science of Science

From: robert j. kolker (nowhere_at_nowhere.net)
Date: 01/25/05 

Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 22:22:34 -0500

> The four colour map problem was finally 'proved' by computer. That is, every
> possible combination of neighbouring map shapes were tried and tested. This is
> empirical. There is (or at least was at the time) no know formal method to
> prove it.

The discovery was empirical. The justification was formal. It was still
necessary to show that the cases enumerated by the computer program were
exhaustive and mutually exclusive.

Proofs are almost always found by heuristic means, but they must be
presented in a formal or near formal manner to show that they are
correct proofs.

Bob Kolker

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Epistemology 201: The Science of Science
    ... > possible combination of neighbouring map shapes were tried and tested. ... necessary to show that the cases enumerated by the computer program were ... presented in a formal or near formal manner to show that they are ... correct proofs. ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: Epistemology 201: The Science of Science
    ... > possible combination of neighbouring map shapes were tried and tested. ... necessary to show that the cases enumerated by the computer program were ... presented in a formal or near formal manner to show that they are ... correct proofs. ...
    (sci.physics)