No subject

[Robert I. Soare]

DATE:   Wednesday, August 3, 1999
TO:     FOM (Foundations of Mathematics):   fom at math.psu.edu
FROM:  	Robert Soare, The University of Chicago
RE:     Reply to msg of Mr. Joe Shipman     (FOM, August 2, 1999).

Mr. Shipman raises some interesting points and has obviously a
sincere interest in computability theory.  In reply to the points
raised let me say this.

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POINT 1:  

Simpson's memos (FOM June 21, July 13, July 19, July 22, July 28-1,
July 28-1).  These contained SERIOUS mathematical ERRORS (not just
differences in philosophy).  Soare has spent 5 weeks carefully
preparing and writing a full reply and correction to these documents.
(See Soare, FOM August 2.)  Until all those points are addressed by
Mr. Simpson and either refuted with evidence and full logical argument,
or else Mr. Simpson admits he was wrong, Soare does not intend to
engage in a debate on any other issues, lest this go on forever.
If each of these points is neither refuted not retracted, then the
FOM readers will know the true status of the Simpson claims.

Soare chooses: (1) NOT to discuss any OTHER parts of the papers or NEW
issues (not ALREADY treated in the long paper, Soare fom, Aug. 3)
which may be objectionable; (2) NOT to debate or excessively criticize;
but JUST to correct the MATHEMATICAL MISTAKES.  Namely, to paraphrase
from a saying about the ECONOMY in President Clinton's 1992
presidential campaign,
  
  	       "IT'S THE ERRORS, MR. SIMPSON, JUST THE ERRORS!"


If you want to debate issues, choose some from the long paper (Soare,
FOM, Aug. 3) which contains PLENTY.

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POINT 2.  SHIPMAN'S POINTS ARE MOSTLY ALREADY COVERED.

The points raised by Mr. Shipman have been largely covered in the
two preceding FOM msgs:

(1)  CORRECTIONS of SIMPSON'S MATHEMATICAL ERRORS (FOM, Aug. 2);

(2)  NATURAL EXAMPLES   (FOM, AUG. 3).


Any further explanation Mr. Shipman wishes about controversial issues
in computability theory (CT) will be gladly given once POINT 1 is
fully resolved, as Soare has already informed Shipman in private.



*************************************************************************
Robert I. Soare
Paul Snowden Russell 
Distinguished Service Professor
    of Mathematics and Computer Science			
Department of Mathematics 	     PHONE: (773) 702-6029, Secty: 702-7100 
The University of Chicago            FAX:   (773) 702-9787
5734 University Avenue		     E-MAIL:	soare at cs.uchicago.edu
Chicago, IL 60637-1546	USA  	     WEB: http://www.cs.uchicago.edu/~soare
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