Believe Quote by Andrew Wiles
“I don't believe Fermat had a proof. I think he fooled himself into thinking he had a proof.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Oxford Mathematics, 1995
Fermat’s claimed proof likely never existed; his confidence may have been mistaken.
In simple terms: Fermat probably lacked a proof.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions critically.
Themes
mathematics
history
skepticism
Mood
inquisitive
analytical
Type
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research
- teaching
- academic discourse
Key Concepts
Proof theory
philosophy of math
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do myths persist in science?
- How to verify historic mathematical claims?
A Different Perspective
Historical claims can inspire false confidence.
![“A reply to Olbers' attempt in 1816 to entice him to work on Fermat's Theorem. I confess that Fermat's Theorem as an isolated proposition has very little interest for me, because I could easily lay down a multitude of such propositions, which one could neither prove nor dispose of. []” quote by Carl Friedrich Gauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/026/carl-friedrich-gauss-9412_fermat_a-reply-to-olbers-attempt-in-1816-to-ent_2675593.jpg)
![“Before beginning [to try to prove Fermat's Last Theorem] I should have to put in three years of intensive study, and I haven't that much time to squander on a probable failure.” quote by David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b4f/david-hilbert-12585_education_before-beginning-to-try-to-prove-fermat_2395986.jpg)
