[AntonioLao]

The website describes the 23 mathematical problems addressed by Hilbert at the turn of the century 1900.

http://babbage.clarku.edu/~djoyce/hilbert/

[AntonioLao]

The following site shows what problems remain unsolved
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilbert's_problems

[Guille]

I had read some things about the Hilbert problems. Going through the list, I recognise some of them.

There are only two completely open problems left. There is one partially solved, one non-mathematical solution, one which is described as "too vague", and one with "no consensus", and I don't know what thsi last one means?

The problem I most like is the 6th "Axiomatize all physics" which has been solved but not mathematically. I believe it's the most atractive to have a go at, I'll try it.

Another one I like is the first problem. What set of numbers could there be between reals and integers?

I see mentions about a 24th problem in the links. What problem is it????

[AntonioLao]

Originally Posted by GUILLE I see mentions about a 24th problem in the links. What problem is it????

The 24th problem was a theory of proof based on the criterion of simplicity. Simplicity is the property, condition, or quality of being simple or un-combined. It often connotes beauty. Simple things are usually easier to explain and understand than complex ones. Simplicity is freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort. According to Occam's razor, all other things being equal, the simplest theory is the most likely to be true — hence the importance of the concept of simplicity in epistemology. According to Thomas Aquinas, God is infinitely simple.

[Guille]

Originally Posted by AntonioLao The 24th problem was a theory of proof based on the criterion of simplicity. Simplicity is the property, condition, or quality of being simple or un-combined. It often connotes beauty. Simple things are usually easier to explain and understand than complex ones. Simplicity is freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort. According to Occam's razor, all other things being equal, the simplest theory is the most likely to be true — hence the importance of the concept of simplicity in epistemology. According to Thomas Aquinas, God is infinitely simple.

And according to Guillermo Garrido, thomas aquinas himself was infinatelly stupid for the fact of believing in an-according-to-him infinatelly stupid god, and believing in the superiority of this un existing element.

But the idea of "simpel is beautifull" is a philsophical theory, and, that impplies, there is ano opposite theory for it. And actually there is. It can be sum up as thid quote which I don't know who said first: "The streight line is the shortest distance between two points. But not at all the most interesting" and interesting can be replaced with beautifull.