Re: what makes it true?


lhlhsand@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> Are mathematical statements considered true (or false) independent of
> whether or not they've been proven? If so, then what exactly is it
> that makes them true (or false), if not the proof?

There are things that are true that cannot be proved.

> I know it's kind of
> a weird question but it makes me curious. Like for instance take the
> statement "There are exactly 4 primes between 1 and 10." I know this
> is true because if I divide each number between 1 and 10 I find that
> only 2, 3, 5, and 7 don't have integral factors other than 1 and
> themselves. And by resorting to the definition of prime number, I
> conclude that the statement is true. But isn't this method in itself a
> kind of "proof"? I'm confused!
>
> L

.