It was said [in a Google groups

It was said [in a Google groups

It was said [in a Google groups <A href="http://groups.google.com/group/AskPhilosophers/browse_frm/thread/711d9119ce7b33c3?tvc=1&q=computer" target="_blank">post</A>] that "If a [mathematical] proof requires the checking of a very large but finite number of cases, far too many for a human to check, and we use a computer to perform that check, should we count the proposition as proved?" is an open question of mathematical philosophy. Why would anyone think the answer is anything but "yes"? The proof may not have desired aesthetic qualities, but no mathematician would deny its validity even though she may try to create a more pleasing proof.

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