The Goedelian Puzzle Book

Book Details

• Author: Raymond M. Smullyan

• Publisher: Dover

• Language: English

• Edition: 1

• ISBN: 9780486497051

• Pages: 267

• Cover: Paperback

• Dimensions: 10.0 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches

About the Book

In Gödel's Incompleteness Theorems: A Collection of Puzzles and Paradoxes, celebrated logician Raymond M. Smullyan presents a series of recreational logic puzzles that offer creative and entertaining variations on Gödel’s profound incompleteness theorems. These puzzles delve into challenging concepts such as infinity, truth, provability, undecidability, and more, offering readers an engaging journey into the world of logical paradoxes.

The book is divided into two parts. The first explores intriguing systems related to Gödel's theorem, touching on infinity and the mysteries of undecidability. In the second part, Smullyan introduces generalized Gödel theorems, focusing on the essential principles of first-order arithmetic and Peano arithmetic, culminating in a full explanation of Gödel's celebrated result, which involves statements that cannot be proved or disproved.

Importantly, the puzzles require no prior knowledge of formal logic, making them accessible and enjoyable for readers of all ages. The book also includes an introduction to decision theory, or recursion theory, which is essential to modern computer science, making it not only fun but intellectually enriching. Whether you're a novice or an expert, this book promises hours of mental stimulation, presenting a fun and insightful way to explore the depths of mathematical logic and its applications.