Stuart_Armstrong comments on The Crackpot Offer - Less Wrong

42 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 08 September 2007 02:32PM

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Comment author: Stuart_Armstrong 08 September 2007 05:48:29PM 4 points [-]

So I found this counterexample, and saw that my attempted disproof was false, along with my dreams of fame and glory.

Feels familiar - when I was younger, I proved the PoincarĂŠ conjecture, and Fermat's last theorem (twice). I generally managed to slay my proofs by myself, though I felt not regret at being wrong, just frustration and anger at myself.

Even now, as a mathematical researcher, it's very hard to give up a nice result that can't be proved. But I manage. And I do feel that there is a silver lining: greater, more confident accuracy.