Re:Hey, C Is a Functional Language Too
by jrajav on Friday November 02, 2012 @07:09AM
(#4732059)
Rather than saying that higher-order functions is the defining feature of functional programming, I would say that it's an essential feature to support its object of defining programs in terms of (mathematical) function application rather than procedural state changes.
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Does any higher order function application require state changes to implement as a specific lower order instance.
For example, an instance map is just a cons and a recursive call. No state change needed. You can say something about exposing unwanted details in the cons, but that is a hairier point of contention.