I'm watching this video with Quine and at around 1:29:00 he's talking about mathematical logic and he says how it was once "this trivial, stamp collecting offshoot of serious mathematics for pedants and playboys" until it became relevant for computer science.

Now, I think I understand his general point, what I'm curious about is:

1) why does he call it a "stamp collecting" offshoot lol How was mathematical logic an activity akin to stamp collecting?

2) I get "pedants", but how was it the activity of "playboys" lol

 

I imagine he's referring to this

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/05/08/stamp/

 

On 2.07.2018 at 10:51 AM, Alfred001 said:

1) why does he call it a "stamp collecting" offshoot lol How was mathematical logic an activity akin to stamp collecting?

"Stamp collector" = "hobbyist" = "doing something voluntarily" = "not earning money"... = "not requiring a lot of effort"..

 

Edited July 3, 20187 yr by Sensei