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On proof and progress in mathematics

William P. Thurston
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Abstract

In response to Jaffe and Quinn [math.HO/9307227], the author discusses forms of progress in mathematics that are not captured by formal proofs of theorems, especially in his own work in the theory of foliations and geometrization of 3-manifolds and dynamical systems.

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William P. Thurston. 1994-04-01. On proof and progress in mathematics. https://arxiv.org/abs/math/9404236

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