Re: [External] : Re: How to make M-x TAB not work on (interactive) declaration?

[Jean Louis <bugs@gnu.support>]

* Drew Adams <drew.adams@oracle.com> [2023-01-16 20:07]:
> > > > I do understand that there is some LISP mystery
> > > > why is it so.
> > >
> > > This has nothing per se to do with Lisp.  And there's
> > > really no mystery.
> > 
> > So is nothing to do with Lisp but is in Lisp, and is no source of
> > information why is not so, but is not mystery. Then where is the
> > reference why is it so in Lisp?
> 
> "This" in "This has nothing per se..." refers to
> "perhaps [what] you're missing [is] understanding
> _zero as a number_, in 'number of arguments'" (see
> my post).

I understand better.

Nevertheless description for those functions is not clearly written. 

> If you understood what I explained, then I thought
> you'd likely understand Lisp's following the typical
> math convention here.

Sorry, but I still did not understand why. 

It is like asking why is that flower in your pocket on your suit, and
you tell me how that flower is red, and it was always red flower of
that type.

But why is it on suit? 

> Others have explained the use of zero as an identity
> in addition etc.

Yes, I don't understand why is it in Lisp.

> The use of `apply', pointed out by Anders, speaks
> directly to "any number of arguments".  It applies
> a function (e.g. `+') to "any number of arguments",
> which are passed as a list.

Any number means also no argument? To me that is not clear. 

Any number of arguments is to me that it must be at least one
argument, not no argument.

I have got picture of justifications, but cannot see relation.

Example:
--------

* is a built-in function in ‘C source code’.

(* &rest NUMBERS-OR-MARKERS)

Return product of any number of arguments, which are numbers or markers.

But without having arguments, the product is one, which contradicts
multiplication how I know it.

(*) ➜ 1

The Group Theory and identity is there as definitions which I could
read, but I do not see relation between them and that function.

-- 
Jean

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