WHO OWNS THE THEOREM?
MELVYN B. NATHANSON
Abstract. Epistemological and sociological questions about ownership of mathematical and scientific discoveries.
2009.08323.pdf
For me, the answer is clear. Here is an analogy. Legally, you cannot sequence a
plant or animal DNA strand and patent the sequence because you did not create
the sequence. God created it, and you only discovered it. Similarly, mathematical
truths exist, and mathematicians only discover them. If you discover a theorem,
you have the power, the privilege, and, perhaps, the right not to reveal it to anyone,
but if, somehow, someone learns of your result, knows that a certain mathematical
statement is true, then that person has the right to tell the world and to apply it
to obtain new results, with or without your consent.
Can you own a scientific truth? Can you hide a scientific truth? These are
ethical questions, and, in the covid era, not only in mathematics.
No comments:
Post a Comment