Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Reasoning

18.1 Must machines be logical?
18.2 Chains of reasoning
18.3 Chaining
18.4 Logical chains
18.5 Strong arguments
18.6 Magnitude from multitude
18.7 What is a number?
18.8 Mathematics made hard
18.9 Robustness and recovery

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18.5 Strong arguments, p 190
When people disagree, we often say that one side's position
seems "stronger" than the other. But what has "strength" to do
with reasoning? In logic, arguments are simply either right or
wrong [...]

An expert driver [...] leaves the car in gear and turns the
wheels into the curb.

18.6 Magnitude from multitude, p 191
[Our purpose:] reduce the likelihood of failure.

18.8 Mathematics made hard, p 193
   "That theory is worthless. It isn't even wrong!"
                               Wolfgang Pauli

['Prove the truth' and 'Increase the likelihood of correctness'
(seek for provability or robustness) are two divergent
strategies. See Meyer: assertions, and Wittgenstein: tractatus]