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Comment on Mathematicians will probably become obsolete before anyone else [pdf] (2004)parent

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The Curry-Howard correspondence.

For instance, in mathematics, we have A ⇒ A (every statement implies itself, for instance "if it rains, then it rains"); and analogously, in programming, we have the identity function of type A → A (which reads a value as input and outputs the same value).

This is the tip of an enormous iceberg identifying, in a certain precise sense, proving with programming (and stating mathematical assertions with specifying the desired behavior of a program).

However, programming is a bit more general than proving: Circular proofs are simply of no value, whereas looping programs can still be valuable. For instance, I for sure hope that the main loop of the browser I'm currently using to fill out this textbox does not prematurely stop.

we have the identity function of type A → A (which reads a value as input and outputs the same value)

That only exists in theoretical computer science. In real computer programming, you always have some bounds to the value of A.

I think it is time to repost Against Curry-Howard Mysticism (https://liamoc.net/forest/loc-000S/index.xml)

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