From: Nam Nguyen on
MoeBlee wrote:
> William, I have some tough deadlines this week and next, so I can only

>
>> I am taking this introduction of
>> "model theory" to be similar to the introduction of "complex number
>> theory" to wrap up a proof in basic number theory
>
> Okay, let me sort that out: It seems to me that the heart of your
> question is to distinguish between two things:
>
> (1) A Z-R proof of the consistency of PA, in which Z-R proof we refer
> only to syntactical aspects of PA (its language syntax and proof
> syntax)
>
> (2) A Z-R proof of the consistency of PA, in which Z-R proof we refer
> not only to syntactical aspects of PA but also to semantical aspects
> of PA (models).

So the "proof of the consistency of PA" would require that PA has models?
(May as well just require PA be consistent in the first place!).

>
> The answer is that in my proof here, I use also semantical aspects of
> PA.

Apparently you meant (2). Where did you get such an idea for a proof of
consistency?

From: Chris Menzel on
On Tue, 6 Jul 2010 13:15:27 -0700 (PDT), Transfer Principle
<lwalke3(a)lausd.net> said:
> On Jul 5, 8:34 pm, William Hale <h...(a)tulane.edu> wrote:
>> I understand that you [Aatu] don't like the term "work in ZFC" since
>> mathematicians don't work in ZFC as such. But, I am using the term
>> "work" as a shorthand for what is meant when we say that ZFC serves as a
>> foundation for proving things in standard mathematics.
>> By standard mathematics, I was limiting myself to the areas of real
>> analysis, complex analysis, algebra, topology, and (differential)
>> geometry. That is, areas of mathematics discussed before 1900. I didn't
>> include logic since its main results were done after 1900.
>> Let me give some more on what I mean by "work in ZFC". I think some
>> non-mathematicians think that a mathematician comes up with an informal
>> proof and that it may or may not be formalized.
>
> I myself use the phrase "work in ZFC" all the time. But what
> do I mean by "work in ZFC"?
>
> Well, I consider those who _don't_ "work in ZFC" to be those
> who contradict it.

If you simply prefer to work in a weaker theory, e.g., Z, you are not
working in ZFC but you are also not contradicting it either.

From: Aatu Koskensilta on
Transfer Principle <lwalke3(a)lausd.net> writes:

> MoeBlee, Aatu, and the others can say however many times they want to
> about how PA is obviously consistent, and yet that hasn't stopped
> Nelson from searching for a proof that PA is instead inconsistent.

Why would my saying this or that stop anyone from doing anything?

> In conclusion, Nelson's work has the potential to vindicate those whom
> MoeBlee calls "hopeless cranks" across the board.

No it doesn't. Suppose I say the Riemann hypothesis is true because, you
see, if we look very carefully at the zeta function, and squint our eyes
a bit, we find it's in reality made out of paper clips, hotdog buns and
naval lint. Am I vindicated if someone proves the Riemann hypothesis?

--
Aatu Koskensilta (aatu.koskensilta(a)uta.fi)

"Wovon man nicht sprechan kann, dar�ber muss man schweigen"
- Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus
From: Aatu Koskensilta on
"Jesse F. Hughes" <jesse(a)phiwumbda.org> writes:

> Transfer Principle <lwalke3(a)lausd.net> writes:
>
>> In this "secret" thread which he tried in vain to keep hidden[...]
>
> Which he tried to *what*?

MoeBlee tried to keep this "secret" thread hidden by publicly posting it
on a Usenet newsgroup regularly read by those I presume lwalke thinks he
wanted to hide it from. This nefarious plan was foiled by lwalke's
vigilance!

--
Aatu Koskensilta (aatu.koskensilta(a)uta.fi)

"Wovon man nicht sprechan kann, dar�ber muss man schweigen"
- Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus
From: MoeBlee on
On Jul 7, 12:53 pm, Aatu Koskensilta <aatu.koskensi...(a)uta.fi> wrote:
> Transfer Principle <lwal...(a)lausd.net> writes:

> > In conclusion, Nelson's work has the potential to vindicate those whom
> > MoeBlee calls "hopeless cranks" across the board.
>
> No it doesn't. Suppose I say the Riemann hypothesis is true because, you
> see, if we look very carefully at the zeta function, and squint our eyes
> a bit, we find it's in reality made out of paper clips, hotdog buns and
> naval lint. Am I vindicated if someone proves the Riemann hypothesis?

Interesting that in your argument (pre-Perelman) against the Poincare
conjecture you used boomerangs, tongue sandwiches, and navel lint, but
here you use naval lint. Personally, I think a more elegant solution
is found with air force crumbs.

MoeBlee