Not signed in (Sign In)

Vanilla 1.1.9 is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.

Is this question acceptable?: List of mathematical koans

Bottom of Page

1 to 13 of 13

  1.  
  1.  
    Is this big list CW question acceptable?

    Of course, the interpretation of a koan can be varied. Perhaps it will help in a taxonomy of paradoxes?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_paradoxes#Mathematics

    Some examples not on list:

    -Is hypergame a hyperghame?
    -Quining (computing)
    -Can you hear the shape of the drum? (not a paradox but has a koan flavor)

    It can a simple question as:

    Why is it that any number raised to the power zero is equal to 1 and not zero ?
    http://www.calculatoredge.com/math/mathlogic/logicans4.htm

    Related:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker_koan
  2.  
    No. This question is very not acceptable.
  3.  

    What is paradoxal about quining?

  4.  
    @darijgrinberg

    No it's not paradoxical but self-referential.
  5.  

    But self-referential things are not koans per se. (Not all koans are paradoxes, but the ones you mentioned, except for hypergame, are not koans. They are just mathematical problems with some degree of funniness, but they don't have any "mindfuck effect".)

    It's no good to start a list if you are not clear about the definition of what you are listing up.

  6.  
    Even if the definition is tightened, I don't think this is an appropriate question.
    • CommentAuthorYemon Choi
    • CommentTimeDec 18th 2011
     

    Echoing Andy, with a slight variation: I think this is an inappropriate question.

    • CommentAuthorGjergji
    • CommentTimeDec 19th 2011
     
    History has shown that such questions will probably generate a few amusing answers at first but then they become problematic really fast. Either by attracting bad answers or by being the reason people start long debates at meta. I think that it's better to avoid similar questions altogether, unless there is some real motivation, such as needing a list for a talk or article that you are preparing. since this is not the case with your question, I also echo what others have said above.
  9.  
    Thank you all. It was worth a try since many soft questions followed before.
  10.  

    It was worth a try since many soft questions followed before.

    I'm very glad that you said that as it lends strength to the argument that I and others put forward that these soft questions encourage others so should be clearly discouraged from the main site.

    • CommentAuthorAngelo
    • CommentTimeDec 19th 2011
     
    I completely agree with Andrew.
  12.  

    I also completely agree with Andrew.

    • CommentAuthorMariano
    • CommentTimeDec 19th 2011 edited
     

    It doesn't lend strength to the argument, really.

    At best, this thread exemplifies the fact that there are bad soft questions!

    Later: (well... if by «these soft questions» you meant «the bad soft questions», yes it does strengthen the argument by providing a new example)

1 to 13 of 13

  1.  
Back to Discussions Top of Page