[FOM] classification of finite simple groups

[joeshipman@aol.com]

I would have heard about this, I think. A few months ago I was 
discussing the COFSG with John Conway and he was still pessimistic. 
(Meaning of course that he was confident the classification was 
correct, "optimistic" in his case means there are previously 
undiscovered finite simple groups, because they're beautiful and 
interesting objects and it would be disappointing to have no more.)

-- JS


-----Original Message-----
From: Michael J Barany <mjb245 at cornell.edu>
To: fom at cs.nyu.edu
Sent: Sat, 1 Nov 2008 5:03 pm
Subject: [FOM] classification of finite simple groups



Hi all,

In my abstract algebra class a few years back, we were told that 
algebrists
were pretty confident that the classification of finite simple groups 
had been
solved, and that all that remained was to do the huge project of 
writing up
the proofs in a single multi-volume work and filling in the gaps and 
cleaning
up notation and the like.  I heard recently from some algebrists that a 
new
class of groups had just been found not too long ago, and that now many 
are
doubting whether the classification is finished after all.  I haven't 
pursued
the references for this much, and it occurs to me that I wouldn't 
really know
where to start, but it came up in a conversation today with another 
FOMer, and
we thought we'd ask the list if anyone knew of any references, or could
substantiate this rumor.

Thanks,

Michael

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