[nullnullnull]

The reason for the self quote, is because the block quote only has one style on that theme. Thus in the past readers have been confused between external quotes and internal quotes. That is the reason (as a means of reference).

Secondly, the example you gave is about mathematics. In that context I agree. But in the context of software programming this is not the the same. The statement stands.

[factorial]

Do you know who McCarthy and Alonzo Church were, what the lambda calculus is, and in which way LISP relates to mathematics? If this is all Greek to you, then please look it up. Next time, though, please do some research BEFORE you write blog posts. It will save you from being ridiculed.

[nullnullnull]

Yes I'm aware, you still haven't backed your statement. The context is "software engineering" not about creating the next LISP. So please answer that before throwing ad-hominem's?