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"The Search for Rigor": Review of Mechanizing Proof: Computing, Risk, and Trust, by Donald Mackenzie MIT press, 2001). Reviewed by Brian Hayes. American Scientist, July-August 2002.
Mackenzie's Mechanizing Proof explores the concept of proof as understood in both mathematics and computer science. Hayes explains that "MacKenzie's story has two mirror-image aspects. On the one hand, computers can help construct proofs in mathematics; on the other, proof techniques borrowed from mathematics might help in constructing correct computer programs." Hayes praises Mackenzie---a sociologist---for his descriptions of the mathematical and computer science issues, for the literature he used and interviews conducted for source material, and for his writing style.
--- Annette Emerson
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