A Common Type of Rigorous Proof that Resists Hilbert’s Programme


Type
Article
Change log
Authors
Bundy, Alan 
Abstract

Following Hilbert, there seems to be a simple and clear definition of mathematical proof: it is a sequence of formulae each of which is either an axiom or follows from earlier formulae by a rule of inference. Automated theorem provers are based on this Hilbertian concept of proof, in which the formulae and rules of inference are represented in a formal logic. These logic- based proofs are typically an order of magnitude longer than the rigorous proofs produced by human mathematicians. There is a consensus, however, that rigorous proofs could, in principle, be unpacked into logical proofs, but this programme is rarely carried out because it would be tedious and uninformative. We argue that, for at least one class of rigorous proofs, which we will call schematic proofs, such a simple unpacking is not available. We will illustrate schematic proofs by analysing Cauchy’s faulty proof of Euler’s Theorem V-E+F = 2, as reported in [Lakatos, 1976] and giving further examples from [Nelsen, 1993]. We will then give a logic-based account of schematic proofs, distinguishing them from Hilbertian proofs, and showing why they are error prone.

Description
Keywords
5003 Philosophy, 4904 Pure Mathematics, 49 Mathematical Sciences, 50 Philosophy and Religious Studies
Journal Title
Proof Technology in Mathematics Research and Teaching
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
2211-8136
2211-8144
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer International Publishing