Shaun Isherwood
@shaunlovesmaths.bsky.social
I'm a PhD student at the University of Aberdeen studying group theory, an area of mathematics concerning symmetry. I have schizophrenia.
I'm wrapping up my research project.
I'm wrapping up my research project.
Pinned
Donate to Final Stretch of PhD., organized by Shaun Isherwood
Hello,
I'm Shaun Isherwood, a PhD student of mathematics at The University of Aberdeen (UK).… Shaun Isherwood needs your support for Final Stretch of PhD.
gofund.me
I have a GoFundMe.
Essentially, my disability benefits got cut, and I have tuition fees to pay. My freelance job is temperamental.
Please donate what you feel comfortable donating; no pressure.
gofund.me/d013948e
Essentially, my disability benefits got cut, and I have tuition fees to pay. My freelance job is temperamental.
Please donate what you feel comfortable donating; no pressure.
gofund.me/d013948e
I keep feeling as if I'll fail my PhD. This is normal, I know, but that doesn't make me feel any better.
My dissertation might well be very short. I doubt I can produce enough mathematics for the degree.
Mileage varies for doctorates. They're each unique. This fact is also of no comfort.
My dissertation might well be very short. I doubt I can produce enough mathematics for the degree.
Mileage varies for doctorates. They're each unique. This fact is also of no comfort.
January 11, 2026 at 11:08 PM
I keep feeling as if I'll fail my PhD. This is normal, I know, but that doesn't make me feel any better.
My dissertation might well be very short. I doubt I can produce enough mathematics for the degree.
Mileage varies for doctorates. They're each unique. This fact is also of no comfort.
My dissertation might well be very short. I doubt I can produce enough mathematics for the degree.
Mileage varies for doctorates. They're each unique. This fact is also of no comfort.
The following is logically valid for any predicate P:
∃x(Px→∀yPx).
∃x(Px→∀yPx).
January 8, 2026 at 6:44 PM
The following is logically valid for any predicate P:
∃x(Px→∀yPx).
∃x(Px→∀yPx).
Given integers a, b, c with a+b+c=0, we have that 32(a⁴+b⁴+c⁴) is square.
January 6, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Given integers a, b, c with a+b+c=0, we have that 32(a⁴+b⁴+c⁴) is square.
I spent three hours typing up msthematical notes in LaTeX. The result? One side of A4.
Fuck my life.
Fuck my life.
January 6, 2026 at 5:56 PM
I spent three hours typing up msthematical notes in LaTeX. The result? One side of A4.
Fuck my life.
Fuck my life.
The Ωth root of ω is ∞, where Ω is the "gap at the end of the surreal number line," ω is a specific infinite surreal number, and ∞ is the gap between finite and infinite surreal numbers.
December 30, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The Ωth root of ω is ∞, where Ω is the "gap at the end of the surreal number line," ω is a specific infinite surreal number, and ∞ is the gap between finite and infinite surreal numbers.
December 13, 2025 at 7:48 PM
@forrestvalkai.bsky.social
How well, in your opinion, does Conway's, "The Game of Life" describe life in general?
The game is "Turing complete"; I know that much. That means it can simulate any computer.
By the way, there is a free simulation of it via the Google Play store, called "Golly".
How well, in your opinion, does Conway's, "The Game of Life" describe life in general?
The game is "Turing complete"; I know that much. That means it can simulate any computer.
By the way, there is a free simulation of it via the Google Play store, called "Golly".
December 3, 2025 at 2:51 PM
@forrestvalkai.bsky.social
How well, in your opinion, does Conway's, "The Game of Life" describe life in general?
The game is "Turing complete"; I know that much. That means it can simulate any computer.
By the way, there is a free simulation of it via the Google Play store, called "Golly".
How well, in your opinion, does Conway's, "The Game of Life" describe life in general?
The game is "Turing complete"; I know that much. That means it can simulate any computer.
By the way, there is a free simulation of it via the Google Play store, called "Golly".
@forrestvalkai.bsky.social
As a lay person in biology, I summarise the main thesis of Dawkins', "The Selfish Gene" to be: morality is game theory acting on genes, with memes (in the original sense of the word) taking over evolved instincts.
Would that be accurate?
Do his ideas still hold today?
As a lay person in biology, I summarise the main thesis of Dawkins', "The Selfish Gene" to be: morality is game theory acting on genes, with memes (in the original sense of the word) taking over evolved instincts.
Would that be accurate?
Do his ideas still hold today?
November 28, 2025 at 3:32 PM
@forrestvalkai.bsky.social
As a lay person in biology, I summarise the main thesis of Dawkins', "The Selfish Gene" to be: morality is game theory acting on genes, with memes (in the original sense of the word) taking over evolved instincts.
Would that be accurate?
Do his ideas still hold today?
As a lay person in biology, I summarise the main thesis of Dawkins', "The Selfish Gene" to be: morality is game theory acting on genes, with memes (in the original sense of the word) taking over evolved instincts.
Would that be accurate?
Do his ideas still hold today?
Reposted by Shaun Isherwood
November 28, 2025 at 2:02 PM
@forrestvalkai.bsky.social
There are mathematical systems that model logics in which at least one of the laws of logic (i.e., identity, noncontradiction, and excluded middle) does not hold.
Do you think pointing to them would get past presuppositionalists' insistence we justify "faith" in logic?
There are mathematical systems that model logics in which at least one of the laws of logic (i.e., identity, noncontradiction, and excluded middle) does not hold.
Do you think pointing to them would get past presuppositionalists' insistence we justify "faith" in logic?
November 13, 2025 at 2:10 PM
@forrestvalkai.bsky.social
There are mathematical systems that model logics in which at least one of the laws of logic (i.e., identity, noncontradiction, and excluded middle) does not hold.
Do you think pointing to them would get past presuppositionalists' insistence we justify "faith" in logic?
There are mathematical systems that model logics in which at least one of the laws of logic (i.e., identity, noncontradiction, and excluded middle) does not hold.
Do you think pointing to them would get past presuppositionalists' insistence we justify "faith" in logic?
Reposted by Shaun Isherwood
Dictators don’t like math—because math insists on reality.
We’re still trying to work out how this math maths. Is he suggesting people are crossing illegally out of the US into Mexico and Canada? Math exposes the lie, but when reality is inconvenient, the authoritarian will simply demand a new one.
We’re still trying to work out how this math maths. Is he suggesting people are crossing illegally out of the US into Mexico and Canada? Math exposes the lie, but when reality is inconvenient, the authoritarian will simply demand a new one.
November 3, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Dictators don’t like math—because math insists on reality.
We’re still trying to work out how this math maths. Is he suggesting people are crossing illegally out of the US into Mexico and Canada? Math exposes the lie, but when reality is inconvenient, the authoritarian will simply demand a new one.
We’re still trying to work out how this math maths. Is he suggesting people are crossing illegally out of the US into Mexico and Canada? Math exposes the lie, but when reality is inconvenient, the authoritarian will simply demand a new one.
I have a hypothesis: this "Tylenol for pregnancy pains causes autism in children" thing is religiously motivated. After all, Genesis states that its god punishes all people that give birth by making childbirth painful. Maybe the Whitehouse thinks childbearing SHOULD be painful . . .
September 23, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I have a hypothesis: this "Tylenol for pregnancy pains causes autism in children" thing is religiously motivated. After all, Genesis states that its god punishes all people that give birth by making childbirth painful. Maybe the Whitehouse thinks childbearing SHOULD be painful . . .
Whether something is true can depend nontrivially on one's choice of set theory, even for some innocent-looking mathematical statements. This throws a spanner in the works for some epistemologies.
math.stackexchange.com/q/3570121/10...
math.stackexchange.com/q/3570121/10...
Simple/natural questions in group theory whose answers depend on set theory
Take these two questions:
"Given objects $X$, is there always a group $(X, e, *)$ with those objects?” (Ans: yes iff Axiom of Choice.)
"Take a group $G$, its automorphism group ${\rm Aut}(G)$, the
math.stackexchange.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Whether something is true can depend nontrivially on one's choice of set theory, even for some innocent-looking mathematical statements. This throws a spanner in the works for some epistemologies.
math.stackexchange.com/q/3570121/10...
math.stackexchange.com/q/3570121/10...
It's my birthday today! I turn 35.
If you'd like to get me a gift, then thank you! - please consider helping me out with my tuition fees!
www.gofundme.com/f/final-stre...
If you'd like to get me a gift, then thank you! - please consider helping me out with my tuition fees!
www.gofundme.com/f/final-stre...
Donate to Final Stretch of PhD., organized by Shaun Isherwood
Hello,
I'm Shaun Isherwood, a PhD student of mathematics at The University of Aberdeen (UK).… Shaun Isherwood needs your support for Final Stretch of PhD.
www.gofundme.com
September 4, 2025 at 11:23 AM
It's my birthday today! I turn 35.
If you'd like to get me a gift, then thank you! - please consider helping me out with my tuition fees!
www.gofundme.com/f/final-stre...
If you'd like to get me a gift, then thank you! - please consider helping me out with my tuition fees!
www.gofundme.com/f/final-stre...
I have a GoFundMe.
Essentially, my disability benefits got cut, and I have tuition fees to pay. My freelance job is temperamental.
Please donate what you feel comfortable donating; no pressure.
gofund.me/d013948e
Essentially, my disability benefits got cut, and I have tuition fees to pay. My freelance job is temperamental.
Please donate what you feel comfortable donating; no pressure.
gofund.me/d013948e
Donate to Final Stretch of PhD., organized by Shaun Isherwood
Hello,
I'm Shaun Isherwood, a PhD student of mathematics at The University of Aberdeen (UK).… Shaun Isherwood needs your support for Final Stretch of PhD.
gofund.me
August 13, 2025 at 6:41 PM
I have a GoFundMe.
Essentially, my disability benefits got cut, and I have tuition fees to pay. My freelance job is temperamental.
Please donate what you feel comfortable donating; no pressure.
gofund.me/d013948e
Essentially, my disability benefits got cut, and I have tuition fees to pay. My freelance job is temperamental.
Please donate what you feel comfortable donating; no pressure.
gofund.me/d013948e
Hi @katymontgomerie.com, @theardenhart.bsky.social, and @jimmysnow.bsky.social,
I need a helping hand, please:
gofund.me/d013948e
Would a superchat advertising my GoFundMe be welcome on TACIS?
I don't want to make any assumptions. You're not obliged to help.
I'm a little desperate.
I need a helping hand, please:
gofund.me/d013948e
Would a superchat advertising my GoFundMe be welcome on TACIS?
I don't want to make any assumptions. You're not obliged to help.
I'm a little desperate.
Donate to Final Stretch of PhD., organized by Shaun Isherwood
Hello,
I'm Shaun Isherwood, a PhD student of mathematics at The University of Aberdeen (UK).… Shaun Isherwood needs your support for Final Stretch of PhD.
gofund.me
August 13, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Hi @katymontgomerie.com, @theardenhart.bsky.social, and @jimmysnow.bsky.social,
I need a helping hand, please:
gofund.me/d013948e
Would a superchat advertising my GoFundMe be welcome on TACIS?
I don't want to make any assumptions. You're not obliged to help.
I'm a little desperate.
I need a helping hand, please:
gofund.me/d013948e
Would a superchat advertising my GoFundMe be welcome on TACIS?
I don't want to make any assumptions. You're not obliged to help.
I'm a little desperate.
There are no trans people in the Epstein files.
July 24, 2025 at 8:30 AM
There are no trans people in the Epstein files.
Reposted by Shaun Isherwood
A 72 percent reduction in federal funding is devastating to math research. The American Mathematical Society is offering $1 million in backstop grants—but it’s likely not enough.
Math Is Quietly in Crisis over NSF Funding Cuts
A 72 percent reduction in federal funding is devastating to math research. The American Mathematical Society is offering $1 million in backstop grants-but it's likely not enough.
spklr.io
July 19, 2025 at 1:13 PM
A 72 percent reduction in federal funding is devastating to math research. The American Mathematical Society is offering $1 million in backstop grants—but it’s likely not enough.
"What would Jesus do?"
Maybe threaten people with Hell.
Maybe threaten people with Hell.
July 8, 2025 at 4:24 PM
"What would Jesus do?"
Maybe threaten people with Hell.
Maybe threaten people with Hell.
May 21, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Reposted by Shaun Isherwood
Neil degrees Tyson Explaining the "God of the Gaps".
April 27, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Neil degrees Tyson Explaining the "God of the Gaps".
I'M A STUPID MORON WITH AN UGLY FACE AND A BIG BUTT, AND MY BUTT SMELLS AND I LIKE TO KISS MY OWN BUTT.
April 27, 2025 at 11:21 PM
I'M A STUPID MORON WITH AN UGLY FACE AND A BIG BUTT, AND MY BUTT SMELLS AND I LIKE TO KISS MY OWN BUTT.
Confronting TRANSPHOBIA in the Secular Movement?!
YouTube video by Arden Hart
youtu.be
April 27, 2025 at 4:16 PM