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ARTICLE
The Web as A Tool For Proving
Article first published online: 16 JUL 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9973.2012.01758.x
© 2012 The Authors. Metaphilosophy © 2012 Metaphilosophy LLC and Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Issue
Metaphilosophy
Special Issue: Philoweb: Toward a Philosophy of the Web: Guest Editors: Harry Halpin and Alexandre Monnin
Volume 43, Issue 4, pages 480–498, July 2012
Additional Information
How to Cite
Stefaneas, P. and Vandoulakis, I. M. (2012), The Web as A Tool For Proving. Metaphilosophy, 43: 480–498. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9973.2012.01758.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 16 JUL 2012
- Article first published online: 16 JUL 2012
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- proof;
- mathematical proof;
- mathematical practice;
- Web;
- communication media;
- virtual world;
- crowdsourcing;
- proof-event;
- Joseph Amadee Goguen;
- Timothy Gowers
Abstract
The Web may critically transform the way we understand the activity of proving. The Web as a collaborative medium allows the active participation of people with different backgrounds, interests, viewpoints, and styles. Mathematical formal proofs are inadequate for capturing Web-based proofs. This article claims that Web provings can be studied as a particular type of Goguen's proof-events. Web-based proof-events have a social component, communication medium, prover-interpreter interaction, interpretation process, understanding and validation, historical component, and styles. To demonstrate its claim, the article discusses the Kumo and Polymath projects, both of which employ Web-based communication as part of proving. Web proving is a novel type of proving activity that may have a serious impact on the change in mathematical practices, despite the fact that it is not currently a universally acceptable methodology.