Comment on Open Thread: August 2009

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:05:17 GMT

I don't really think the question is whether mathematics is more meritocratic - it's an economic question of credentialing. You need credentialing when you cannot cheaply verify performance. If I had a personal LHC and wrote a paper based on its results, I don't think anyone would care too much about whether I have 2 PhDs or just a GED - the particle physicists would accept it. But of course, nobody has a personal LHC.

With mathematics, with formal machine-checkable proofs, the cost of verification is about as low as possible. How long does it take to load a Coq proof and check it? A second or two? Then all someone needs to do is take a look at my few premises; either the premises are dodgy (which should be obvious), or they're common & acceptable (in which case they know I'm a math genius), or I'm exploiting a Coq flaw (in which case I'm also a math genius). Once they rule out #1, I'm golden and can begin turning the genie's gift to good account.

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