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Constructive mathematics, Church's Thesis, and free choice sequences

Turner, David A. (2021) Constructive mathematics, Church's Thesis, and free choice sequences. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, . ISSN 0302-9743. (doi:10.1007/978-3-030-80049-9_44) (KAR id:88974)

Abstract

We see the defining properties of constructive mathematics as being the proof interpretation of the logical connectives and the definition of function as rule or method. We sketch the development of intuitionist type theory as an alternative to set theory. We note that the axiom of choice is constructively valid for types, but not for sets. We see the theory of types, in which proofs are directly algorithmic, as a more natural setting for constructive mathematics than set theories like IZF. Church’s thesis provides an objective definition of effective computability. It cannot be proved mathematically because it is a conjecture about what kinds of mechanisms are physically possible, for which we have scientific evidence but not proof. We consider the idea of free choice sequences and argue that they do not undermine Church’s Thesis.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1007/978-3-030-80049-9_44
Uncontrolled keywords: constructive type theory, Church’s Thesis, free choice sequence
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 21 History of mathematics
Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 75 Electronic computers. Computer science
Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 8 Philosophy of mathematics
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Computing
Depositing User: David Turner
Date Deposited: 01 Jul 2021 20:49 UTC
Last Modified: 29 Jun 2022 20:48 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/88974 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Turner, David A..

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