Re: [PO] halting problem: existence proofs

From: Peter Olcott (olcott_at_worldnet.att.net)
Date: 08/30/04 

Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 12:18:01 GMT

"Robert Low" <mtx014@linux.services.coventry.ac.uk> wrote in message news:cgumpc$ium$1@sunbeam.coventry.ac.uk...
>
> Mitch Harris <harrisq@tcs.inf.tu-dresden.de> wrote:
> >Robert Low wrote:
> >>>>You have to provide the algorithm first.
> >>>Not to refute undecidability I don't.
> >> 1/ That's precisely what you have to do it you
> >> want to refute the statement that the halting
> >> problem is not computable.
> >He doesn't -have- to provide an algorithm. There are other

I am limiting this to every existing proof, thus I don't
have to provide a solution, merely a categorically complete
refutation.

> Ach, you're right, of course. A proof of existence doesn't
> have to be constructive. (Though they tend to be the most
> compelling ones :-))
>
> But my second leg is enough to stand on: if
> he's telling people to run his algorithm and
> see what happens (which he was) he does need
> to provide it.
>
>
> --
> Rob. http://www.mis.coventry.ac.uk/~mtx014/

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