An accessible explanation of Kurt Gödel's groundbreaking work in
mathematical logic
In 1931 Kurt Gödel published his fundamental paper, On Formally
Undecidable Propositions of Principia Mathematica and Related Systems.
This revolutionary paper challenged certain basic assumptions underlying
much research in mathematics and logic. Gödel received public
recognition of his work in 1951 when he was awarded the first Albert
Einstein Award for achievement in the natural sciences--perhaps the
highest award of its kind in the United States. The award committee
described his work in mathematical logic as one of the greatest
contributions to the sciences in recent times.
However, few mathematicians of the time were equipped to understand the
young scholar's complex proof. Ernest Nagel and James Newman provide a
readable and accessible explanation to both scholars and non-specialists
of the main ideas and broad implications of Gödel's discovery. It offers
every educated person with a taste for logic and philosophy the chance
to understand a previously difficult and inaccessible subject.
New York University Press is proud to publish this special edition of
one of its bestselling books. With a new introduction by Douglas R.
Hofstadter, this book will appeal students, scholars, and professionals
in the fields of mathematics, computer science, logic and philosophy,
and science.
