FOM: Is chess as interesting as mathematics? NO

[charles silver]

Professor Grandy has produced the following "theorem":

> Theorem:  Chess is less interesting than Peano Arithmetic.

    The proof cites chess problems as concerning finite natural numbers
(well, maybe finite positive integers), and PA deals with the...infinite.
QED!
     Is finite model theory less interesting (or less applicable to other
areas of scientific investigation) than ordinary model theory?   Are all
infinite areas of investigation of more intrinsic interest than finite ones?
How about outstanding problems?   Is every outstanding problem involving
infinite numbers of more intrinsic interest than any finite question?