Synopsis
Kurt Gödel (1906 - 1978) was the most outstanding logician of the twentieth century, famous for his hallmark works on the completeness of logic, the incompleteness of number theory, and the consistency of the axiom of choice and the continuum hypothesis. He is also noted for his work on constructivity, the decision problem, and the foundations of computability theory, as well as for the strong individuality of his writings on the philosophy of mathematics. He is less well known for his discovery of unusual cosmological models for Einstein's equations, in theory permitting time travel into the past.
The Collected Works is a landmark resource that draws together a lifetime of creative thought and accomplishment. The first two volumes were devoted to Gödel's publications in full (both in original and translation), and the third volume featured a wide selection of unpublished articles and lecture texts found in Gödel's Nachlass. These long-awaited final two volumes contain Gödel's correspondence of logical, philosophical, and scientific interest. Volume IV covers A to G, with H to Z in volume V; in addition, Volume V contains a full inventory of Gödel's Nachlass.
All volumes include introductory notes that provide extensive explanatory and historical commentary on each body of work, English translations of material originally written in German (some transcribed from the Gabelsberger shorthand), and a complete bibliography of all works cited.
Kurt Gödel: Collected Works is designed to be useful and accessible to as wide an audience as possible without sacrificing scientific or historical accuracy. The only comprehensive edition of Gödel's work available, it will be an essential part of the working library of professionals and students in logic, mathematics, philosophy, history of science, and computer science and all others who wish to be acquainted with one of the great minds of the twentieth century.
Revue de presse
It is a fascinating and enduringly important collection, superbly well-edited, each paper being prefaced with an excellent intoduction providing background information, summaries of the arguments and, where necessary, criticisms of the views expressed. The editors are to be wholeheartedly congratulated on bringing to the public work which deserves careful study and which ought to do something to revitalise the philosophy of mathematics by presenting a point of view that, unusually, combines intellectual rigour with a willingness to make bold and metaphysical claims. Times Higher Education Supplement, 15 March 1996
All these essays and lectures are most carefully written and remarkably rich. They all give considerable insight into Gödel's own achievements in Logic, Set Theory and Physics and also into his philosophical views ... We [] hope very strongly that volume 3 is not the last volume and that other volumes (comprising his letters and notes?) will appear soon. (Vienna Circle Institute Yearbook (1997) 5: Game Theory, Experience, Rationality)
From reviews of Volume I: ` Anyone interested in the life and work of Kurt Gödel, h n the history of mathematical logic in this century, is indebted to all of the contributors to this volume for the care with which they have presented Gödel's work. They have succeeded in using their own expertise to elucidate both the nature and the significance of what Gödel and, in turn, mathematical logic have accomplished.' Isis ` From the example of this first volume, the edition promises to be a model of its kind; virtually nothing could be bettered.' Mind
'These volumes contain, as well as the doctoral dissertation and a hitherto unpublished revision of a translation of the Dialectica paper, all of Gödel's work printed in his lifetime. The volumes are meticulously edited and are a pleasure to consult. Original page numbers are clearly shown; papers written in German are printed with facing translations.' R.O. Gandy, Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society, 24 (1992)
The book, ... will certainly enlarge our appreciation of Gödel's scientific and philosophical thought as well as our understanding of his motivations. (Mathematical Reviews, Issue 96f.)
Each item in the volume carries an introduction written by a leading expert, and there are detailed textual notes at the end of the book. The editorial standards are extremely high throughout (London Mathematical Society 1997)
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