The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Independence of the Continuum Hypothesis

12/19/2020

In this blog post, Scott Aaronson discusses the concept of 'proof-fragility' and its implications in theoretical computer science. He starts by explaining the importance of proofs in mathematics and how they provide certainty and rigidity to mathematical claims. However, he introduces the concept of 'proof-fragility,' referring to situations where a small modification in the statement being proved can render the previous proof invalid. Aaronson presents a specific example related to quantum computing and explores the deeper philosophical questions it raises. He discusses the implications of proof-fragility for the foundations of mathematics and highlights the challenges it poses for theoretical computer science.

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