Mathematician littmath: establishing what is true is itself a substantial contribution
joshgans · x · 2026-10-07
In a discussion with economist Josh Gans, mathematician littmath (Tim Gowers) argues that while explaining 'why' matters, figuring out what is true—as opposed to why—is often a substantial contribution to understanding a phenomenon in its own right.
The remark comes amid debate over AI models producing mathematical results: even conclusions without explanations carry value if verified.
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