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A comment on The existence of the square root of two (2001). Parent comment

Re:The existence of the square root of two (2001) by mjburgess on Monday December 25, 2017 @07:31PM (#16006376)
I agree with you, but I don't think the objector in the article is merely making that point.

His scepticism seems deeper. It isnt merely that he thinks that nothing satisfies that equation, he seems to in addition think, that even if something does it wouldnt count as "existing".

If the objection were merely that "x^2 == 2" isnt satisfied, then I agree, that is equivalent to saying "x does not exist" and it would be appropriate to say that.

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Re:The existence of the square root of two (2001) by lmm on Tuesday December 26, 2017 @03:29AM (#16007733)
> His scepticism seems deeper. It isnt merely that he thinks that nothing satisfies that equation, he seems to in addition think, that even if something does it wouldnt count as "existing".

I think that's just the only way to express scepticism about the existence of a solution to x^2 == 2 in a world where any schoolboy can tell you x = 1.414...

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