- Paperback: 362 pages
- Publisher: The MIT Press; New edition edition (Mar 14 1990)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0262730871
- ISBN-13: 978-0262730877
- Product Dimensions: 22.8 x 15 x 2.1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 635 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Library Journal
Wang, professor of logic at Rockefeller University, was personally acquainted with Godel in his last years, and relies on recollected conversations as well as published and unpublished material in this first extended treatment of Godel's life and work. Known primarily as a mathematician/logician from his published work, Godel's extensive unpublished work, says Wang, contains "bold speculations on several perennial issues of universal concern." Those issues are only hinted at here, as most of the philosophical discussion concerns the philosophy of mathematics. Wang promises a future book dealing with Godel's Nachlass. Because material now available on Godel is limited, this somewhat rambling, anecdotal account is essential for pertinent subject collections. Leon H. Brody, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Lib., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Hao Wang, himself a distinguished logician, has performed a remarkable service in producing this book.... It is an invaluable source book on one of the most remarkable thinkers of our century"
—Nature
"The depth and authority of Wang's analysis are certain to make his treatise a standard reference."
—New Scientist
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Godel's was a life (1906-1978) devoted, as much as is humanly possible, and with success, to the doing of fundamental theoretical work. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Godel's was a life (1906-1978) devoted, as much as is humanly possible, and with success, to the doing of fundamental theoretical work. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Since no one else has reviewed this I will.,
By Jason T (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Reflections on Kurt Gödel (Paperback)
I understand that Wang has been an important source in compiling information on Godel and bringing it to public attention over the years, but this is the first book of his I've read. This volume contains a variety of material about Godel- biographical facts, personal recollections, chronologies, Godel's philosophical ideas, the impact and historical setting of his mathematical work, his relationship with Einstein, comparisons to other prominent intellectuals, and more. It assumes a basic understanding of Godel's theorems. The major portion of the book is Wang's attempted presentation and examination of Godel's (largely unpublished) philosophical activity. Much of this is about Wang's own philosophy as he attempts to clarify both their positions by articulating points of agreement and disagreement. Some of these sections require more background in philosophy than most students of mathematics possess (myself included). Wang supplies lots of interesting historical and biographical material as well. The 75 page chronology of Godel's life and work is very informative. Contains 11 photographs of Godel and company. The book ends with some useful commentary on selected publications of Godel. If you're looking just for a biography get Dawson's excellent book, but anyone seriously interested in Godel will want this as well.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews) 12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Since no one else has reviewed this I will.,
By Jason T - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Reflections on Kurt Gödel (Paperback)
Wang has been an important source in compiling information on Godel and bringing it to public attention. This volume contains a variety of material about Godel- biographical facts, personal recollections, chronologies, Godel's philosophical ideas, the impact and historical setting of his mathematical work, his relationship with Einstein, comparisons to other prominent intellectuals, and more. It assumes a basic understanding of Godel's theorems. The bulk of the book is a presentation of some of Godel's (largely unpublished) philosophical activity. There is also quite a bit on Wang's own views as he contrasts them with Godel's. Some of these sections require more background in philosophy than most students of mathematics possess (myself included).Wang supplies lots of interesting historical and biographical material as well. The 75 page chronology of Godel's life and work is very informative. Contains 11 photographs of Godel and company. The book ends with some useful commentary on selected publications of Godel. If you're looking just for a biography get Dawson's excellent book, but anyone seriously interested in Godel will want this as well. 1 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wang Exposes Godel's Great Predictions.,
By George Shollenberger - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Reflections on Kurt Gödel (Paperback)
On Pages 1 and 2, Wang tells us that Godel, the master of the incomplete, suggests the possibility of philosophy as an exact theory emerging within the next hundred years or even sooner. There will be, he believes, scientific disproofs of what he calls' mechanism in biology' and of the proposition that 'there is no mind separate from matter'; moreover he thinks it practically certain that the 'physical laws, in their observable consequences, have a finite limit of precision. In his conversations, he recommends the important project of finding what might be called a 'rational religion.'I conclude that exact philosophy already exists because theological statements are being proven, even though the ultimate truth will always be incomplate. This prediction means that the scientific method cannot be used to prove worlds, which is a box in which we live. Thus, universe cannot be measured without measure standards. So the universe is relativistic and can never be known exactly. I also agree with Godel that mechanisms will never be found in living things. This is why US medical care is so bad. I agree with Godel that minds will never be without bodies because only organizations exist in Nature. I also agree with Godel that a rational religion is coming because theological statements are being proven. |
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