On 18 Feb 2010, at 23:02, Nick Rudnick wrote:
418 bytes in my file system... how many in my brain...? Is it
efficient, inevitable?
Yes, it is efficient conceptually. The idea of closed sets let to
topology, and in combination with abstractions of differential
geometry led to cohomology theory which needed category theory
solving problems in number theory, used in a computer language
called Haskell using a feature called Currying, named after a
logician and mathematician, though only one person.
It is SUCCESSFUL, NO MATTER... :-)
But I spoke about efficiency, in the Pareto sense (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_efficiency
)... Can we say that the way in which things are done now cannot be
improved??
Hans, you were the most specific response to my actual intention --
could I clear up the reference thing for you?
That seems to be an economic theory version of utilitarianism - the
problem is that when dealing with concepts there may be no optimizing
function to agree upon. There is an Occam's razor one may try to apply
in the case of axiomatic systems, but one then finds it may be more
practical with one that is not minimal.
As for the naming problem, it is more of a linguistic problem: the
names were somehow handed by tradition, and it may be difficult to
change them. For example, there is a rumor that "kangaroo" means "I do
not understand" in a native language; assuming this to be true, it
might be difficult to change it.
Mathematicians though stick to their own concepts and definitions
individually. For example, I had conversations with one who calls
monads "triads", and then one has to cope with that.
Hans
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