Discussions of the "mea ning" of math are always interesting --- and revea ling. When I was a student of math at Cambridge B ertra nd R ussell was still around, and much in evidence. H e is supposed to have said, "M athematics is a subject where you don't know what you are talking about, and don't care if what you say is true".
We smart-ass grad students thought that most entertaining. After all, the cano nical example is: "L et x equal y". Most ordinary folks found the remark very annoy ing, which , I suspect, was mainly its purpose. He is also alleged to have said, "P eople who discuss sex or mathematics usually don't practise it very well." Peter Lissaman, Da Vinci Ventures Expertise is not knowing everything, but knowing what to look for. 1454 Miracerros Loop South, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505,USA tel:(505)983-7728
============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
