20 Apr
2011
20 Apr
'11
5:22 p.m.
On Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:04:09 AM EDT, Jean-Pierre Marquis <jean-pierre.marquis@umontreal.ca> asked:
... some people claim that there are mathematical proofs that are explanatory, that is, not only do they establish the claim they prove, but they also show why the given result holds.
... is there any proof, involving categories or not (but preferably so), that you would consider as being explanatory in this sense? ...
My goodness! I'd turn that question around: is there any proof (apart from an "indirect" proof, or "proof by contradiction") that one would *not* "consider as being explanatory in this sense?" Cheers, -- Fred [For admin and other information see: http://www.mta.ca/~cat-dist/ ]