Lisp is not based on the Lambda Calculus
The post quotes McCarthy:<p>&quot;one of the myths concerning LISP that people think up or invent for themselves becomes apparent, and that is that LISP is somehow a realization of the lambda calculus, or that was the intention. The truth is that I didn&#x27;t understand the lambda calculus, really&quot; - John McCarthy<p>So there are a two issues here, 1) whether or not it was McCarthy&#x27;s intention to realize the Lambda Calculus in LISP, and 2) whether or not LISP is such a realization. Or at least some kind of close realization.<p>The answer to 1 is clearly no. This doesn&#x27;t imply an answer to 2 one way or another.<p>If 2 isn&#x27;t true, what explains the widespread belief? Is it really just that he, McCarthy, borrowed some notation?