"Claus Reinke"
I won't try to understand fix just yet, but I'm still confused by the type of fix: fix :: (a -> a) -> a It appears to me that it takes a function as an argument, and that function takes a single argument. So how are you passing fix an anonymous function taking 2 arguments? Sorry if I have beaten this horse to death, but my pea-sized brain is working overtime here.
fix takes a function as an argument, and that function takes a single argument. that function also returns something of the same type as its single argument.
[snip]
and suddenly, fix does have two parameters, which flip can flip!-)
no magic, just technology sufficiently advanced to be indistinguishable from it: a function of one parameter, which returns a function of one parameter, is a function of more than one parameter.
at which point this particular fixed-point combinator puts its recursive unfoldings to rest for tonight.
Claus, Thank you for the detailed explanation. I think I understand now! To be sure, I'll reread your post several times over the next few days. Thanks again, this was very helpful.