Post #2438848

2026-04-27 15:22 UTC

Perhaps surprisingly, this massive acceleration in proof generation has not actually produced significant acceleration in mathematical progress itself (with the possible exception of #1196, in which all three stages are largely carried out at this point, and for which some digested assessment of developments will soon be forthcoming). I can try to explain this counterintuitive situation using the culinary analogy from previous posts, in which the analogues of proof generation, proof verification, and proof digestion are food gathering, food cleaning and inspection, and food preparation (cooking). Societies that are used to food scarcity, and societies used to food abundance, handle communal meals in rather different ways. When there is food scarcity, the bottleneck is supplying the food in the first place; while the efforts of others in the community to clean and prepare the food, and stretch it to feed as many people as possible, are certainly appreciated, it is the hunters, gatherers, and farmers that actually "bring home the bacon" that are given the most acclaim and status, at least in popular culture renditions of such societies. Virtually any contribution of (non-toxic) meat or vegetables to a communal meal would be welcomed, and volunteers could readily be found to properly incorporate such contributions into that meal. (2/5)

Replies (1)

@tao@mathstodon.xyz 2026-04-27 15:22

This can be contrasted with a communal meal in a society used to food abundance, such as a pot-luck event in a developed country. Now that food can be readily sourced in many ways, arbitrary donations of raw ingredients are no longer appreciated; a stranger dropping off a carcass of mystery meat for others to clean and cook, for instance, would not be received well (though rare exceptions might be made if there was a particularly unique and interesting story behind how this carcass was obtained, and one could trust that the meat was safe for human consumption). Even properly inspected, well-presented, and safe-to-eat contributions, such as store-bought prepackaged meals, would often only form a portion of the accepted contributions at best. Thoughtfully home-cooked meals, made by trusted members of the community, are also often highly valued at such events; in particular, the conversations around such contributions can become an important social aspect of the gathering, as well as an opportunity to train a future generation of cooks. (3/5)

Open ##2438849