Is _Brave New World_ really science fiction?
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From: David DeLaney on 8 Apr 2010 11:40 Transfer Principle <lwalke3(a)lausd.net> wrote: >I like the name "discrete mathematicians" -- it certainly >sounds much better than "cranks." Some "cranks" who might be >described as "discrete mathematicians" include HdB and RE, >both of whom have criticized Infinity. Those posters who >believe in a smallest real number, such as AP and MR, may be >included with the "discrete mathematicians" as well. Not wanting to open any cans of ever-shrinking worms here or anything ... but .... what would the name of that smallest real number be? Dave "curious" DeLaney -- \/David DeLaney posting from dbd(a)vic.com "It's not the pot that grows the flower It's not the clock that slows the hour The definition's plain for anyone to see Love is all it takes to make a family" - R&P. VISUALIZE HAPPYNET VRbeable<BLINK> http://www.vic.com/~dbd/ - net.legends FAQ & Magic / I WUV you in all CAPS! --K.
From: Michael Stemper on 8 Apr 2010 17:03 In article <slrnhrsffa.csq.dbd(a)gatekeeper.vic.com>, dbd(a)gatekeeper.vic.com (David DeLaney) writes: >Transfer Principle <lwalke3(a)lausd.net> wrote: >>I like the name "discrete mathematicians" -- it certainly >>sounds much better than "cranks." Some "cranks" who might be >>described as "discrete mathematicians" include HdB and RE, >>both of whom have criticized Infinity. Those posters who >>believe in a smallest real number, such as AP and MR, may be >>included with the "discrete mathematicians" as well. > >Not wanting to open any cans of ever-shrinking worms here or anything ... but >... what would the name of that smallest real number be? "Mu" -- Michael F. Stemper #include <Standard_Disclaimer> Twenty-four hours in a day; twenty-four beers in a case. Coincidence?
From: Mike Schilling on 8 Apr 2010 17:52 David DeLaney wrote: > Transfer Principle <lwalke3(a)lausd.net> wrote: >> I like the name "discrete mathematicians" -- it certainly >> sounds much better than "cranks." Some "cranks" who might be >> described as "discrete mathematicians" include HdB and RE, >> both of whom have criticized Infinity. Those posters who >> believe in a smallest real number, such as AP and MR, may be >> included with the "discrete mathematicians" as well. > > Not wanting to open any cans of ever-shrinking worms here or anything > ... but ... what would the name of that smallest real number be? Arthur.
From: Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor) on 8 Apr 2010 19:09 David DeLaney wrote: > Transfer Principle <lwalke3(a)lausd.net> wrote: >> I like the name "discrete mathematicians" -- it certainly >> sounds much better than "cranks." Some "cranks" who might be >> described as "discrete mathematicians" include HdB and RE, >> both of whom have criticized Infinity. Those posters who >> believe in a smallest real number, such as AP and MR, may be >> included with the "discrete mathematicians" as well. > > Not wanting to open any cans of ever-shrinking worms here or anything ... but > ... what would the name of that smallest real number be? From the sentence, AP and MR. -- Sea Wasp /^\ ;;; Live Journal: http://seawasp.livejournal.com
From: Transfer Principle on 8 Apr 2010 19:16
On Apr 8, 2:03 pm, mstem...(a)walkabout.empros.com (Michael Stemper) wrote: > In article <slrnhrsffa.csq....(a)gatekeeper.vic.com>, d...(a)gatekeeper.vic.com (David DeLaney) writes: > >Transfer Principle <lwal...(a)lausd.net> wrote: > >>I like the name "discrete mathematicians" -- it certainly > >>sounds much better than "cranks." Some "cranks" who might be > >>described as "discrete mathematicians" include HdB and RE, > >>both of whom have criticized Infinity. Those posters who > >>believe in a smallest real number, such as AP and MR, may be > >>included with the "discrete mathematicians" as well. > >Not wanting to open any cans of ever-shrinking worms here or anything .... but > >... what would the name of that smallest real number be? The name of the smallest positive real depends on what the particular so-called "crank" who claims that it exists has decided to name it. > "Mu" Interestingly enough, Stemper's response is "mu," which is a Greek letter. The "crank" RF has named his smallest positive real a Greek letter as well -- except he chose the letter "iota" rather than "mu." Many "cranks" use an ellipsis in their own names for the smallest positive real, such as "0.000...0001." But most standard theorists don't accept the "crank" ellipsis. I already know, of course, that classical analysis doesn't permit the existence of a smallest positive real. But we're discussing _discrete_, not classical, mathematics here. |