Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Yet if I pull the trigger we say that I killed someone, not that the bullet did.


People invented the electric chair because people discovered that high-voltage electricity can kill people. You might invent a particular axiom because it has an interesting mathematical consequence (e.g. the axiom of choice was invented to allow Hilbert's basis theorem to be proven), but what you invented was the axiom, not the consequence.




Consider applying for YC's Winter 2026 batch! Applications are open till Nov 10

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: