"Maths, in university, is useless bull..."

[Kuciwalker]

Show me philosophy that is rigorous like math. Otherwise, concede the point.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
I consider calculus to be number crunching, even though most of the work is trying to define the terms.

Which is, by far, the most time consuming part of writing algorithms.

I can tell you've written tons of algorithms during your extensive programming experience

[Ben Kenobi]

I can tell you've written tons of algorithms during your extensive programming experience

Some.

I always found that part the most difficult and time consuming.

[Ben Kenobi]

Show me philosophy that is rigorous like math. Otherwise, concede the point.

Hey, you seemed so sure that philosophy is not rigorous like math.

So show me why you think this.

[Drogue]

That's the point BK. It is impossible to prove that there is no philosophy that isn't rigourous, since it's impossible to know all philosophies. As shown, Kuci doesn't know all philosophies, however as he said, he has never seen one that is rigourous. Neither have I. I'd love it if there was one, but without any evidence that there is, we cannot conclude that there is.

[Ben Kenobi]

Then define for me what satifies your conditions of rigorous.

[Kuciwalker]

Exactly provable.

For instance, (given a normal understanding of what I mean by various arithmetic operations and mathematical symbols), saying that 2*x=4 implies x=2 is rigorous.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
Some.

I always found that part the most difficult and time consuming.

This experience consisting of your basic-level "intro to CS"-type course?

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
Then define for me what satifies your conditions of rigorous.

Proof by induction, elimination, etc. Recognised methods of proof.

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
This experience consisting of your basic-level "intro to CS"-type course?

Considering in the UK, that would include 2nd year college level maths, that's not bad.

[Kuciwalker]

He's in Canada.

[Drogue]

Yes, but I don't consider that an intellectual backwater. I doubt it's much, if any, behind our education. Having said that, our introduction to CS a whole half a years worth of courses, and many places I've seen. It's for CS students only.

[Kuciwalker]

Ah, well, my experience with AP CS (which is equivalent to an Intro to CS course) was

I spent most of the time messing around on my own.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
What discussion is there? You have your assignments, and when you get them returned, then you go back to the lectures.

I haven't had a course like that since first year.

And the number of research papers I did in science? None. They don't do papers. They have assignments instead.

What "science" and how far? I've written many papers in computer science, in fact...research papers are one of the most critical parts of a scientific education.

If all your school has you doing is assignments, you went to an incredibly crap school.

My friend is a patent lawyer, so I guess patents are just a bunch of lies that should be abolished in favour of everything being public domain.

Have you looked at patents? Damn straight a huge chunk of them are lies -- especially those that require patent lawyers to defend.

If you know so much about me, then what degree do I have, Asher?

I don't proclaim to know everything about you, but I do remember you mentioning that in your thread about your construction job (that your degree didn't get you a job or a good job).

Right, and I suppose you would pay someone to write full time if he were better?

Don't make me laugh.

I work closely with a team at work, all they do is write. The thing is, they know what they're doing -- they're computer science graduates.

There's one or two English majors on the team, and they've been relegated to grammar checking, since they have a very hard time getting things correct...

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Ah, well, my experience with AP CS (which is equivalent to an Intro to CS course) was

I spent most of the time messing around on my own.

Surely, since at a top college everyone would have AP in their major, the intro to CS would be goign on from there? Moreover, wouldn't there be a harder AP course in your last year, before college? You'll be amaxed how much you learn in a short time at college. I know they take 4 weeks to teach a 2 year A level course for people who haven't done that subject here. It's scary how quickly you learn when pushed by the best tutors in the world. I'd imagine the Ivy League is the same?