Overview

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to Gödel's publications in full (both in original and translation), and the third volume featured a wide selection of unpublished articles and lecture texts found in Gödel's Nachlass.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.

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9780195147209

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Reviews

Goedel would probably have been pleased with the systematic and neat presentation. The set should be of interest to professionals and students in the areas of logic, mathematics, [and] philosophy....For all university level libraries and for large public and college library collections....Will also be a treasure in the hands of the individual who can afford and understand a good part of the contents. --New Technical Books, The New York Public Library 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 sweeping metaphysical claims. --The Times Higher Education Supplement Should find a place in all academic libraries where mathematical logic is taught....The editors deserve the highest praise for the design of the edition. --Choice Anyone interested in the life and work of Kurt Goedel, or in 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 Goedel's work. They have succeeded in using their own expertise to elucidate both the nature and significance of what Goedel and, in turn, mathematical logic have accomplished in this century. --Isis A marvel of selfless scholarly teamwork. Under the leadership of Solomon Feferman, many of the world's most eminent logicians and historians of logic have pooled their talents to produce lucid and informative introductions, helpful notes, and clear facing-page translations. It is no small tribute to Goedel to recognize that he deserves this coordination of patient work by brilliant scholars. Equally, it is no small tribute to those who have worked on this volume to say that their efforts are worthy of their subject. --Times Literary Supplement From the example of this first volume, the edition promises to be a model of its kind; virtually nothing could be bettered....The whole is beautifully produced...the translations are clear and accurate....Anyone interested in mathematical logic must...wish to own this first volume of [Goedel's] collected works, which is a worthy tribute to a great man. Feferman and his team are to be congratulated on the care, sureness of touch, and scholarly accuracy with which they have carried out their task, and we must look forward to the appearance of the subsequent volumes. --Mind Beautifully prepared, meticulously edited collection. --The Journal of Symbolic Logic The publication of this book is a significant scientific event not only in mathematical logic...but also in formal computing systems, recursive computing theory, and the possibility and limits of mechanical theorem proving...This volume is a splendid text. The original German and an excellent English translation are printed on facing pages. The introductory notes add much to the reader's understanding of the primary material, and the list of editors and contributors reads like a Who's Who of modern logic. The bibliographic references are extensive and worth explaining in themselves; they probably constitute a guide to the subject in their own right...it is an opportunity to experience firsthand the complexity, elegance, and rigor of one of the great minds of the twentieth century. I look forward to coming volumes. --Computing Reviews Both books are models of what scholarly editions of this kind should be like. . .no one working in logic or in the philosophy of mathematics should be without their own copies. --Philosophia Mathematica The writing throughout exemplifies the clarity, care and incisiveness for which its author is renowned. This is a stimulating book that can be read and reread with intellectual pleasure and profit. --Modern Logic Goedel would probably have been pleased with the systematic and neat presentation. The set should be of interest to professionals and students in the areas of logic, mathematics, [and] philosophy....For all university level libraries and for large public and college library collections....Will also be a treasure in the hands of the individual who can afford and understand a good part of the contents. --New Technical Books, The New York Public Library 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 sweeping metaphysical claims. --The Times Higher Education Supplement Should find a place in all academic libraries where mathematical logic is taught....The editors deserve the highest praise for the design of the edition. --Choice Anyone interested in the life and work of Kurt Goedel, or in 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 Goedel's work. They have succeeded in using their own expertise to elucidate both the nature and significance of what Goedel and, in turn, mathematical logic have accomplished in this century. --Isis A marvel of selfless scholarly teamwork. Under the leadership of Solomon Feferman, many of the world's most eminent logicians and historians of logic have pooled their talents to produce lucid and informative introductions, helpful notes, and clear facing-page translations. It is no small tribute to Goedel to recognize that he deserves this coordination of patient work by brilliant scholars. Equally, it is no small tribute to those who have worked on this volume to say that their efforts are worthy of their subject. --Times Literary Supplement From the example of this first volume, the edition promises to be a model of its kind; virtually nothing could be bettered....The whole is beautifully produced...the translations are clear and accurate....Anyone interested in mathematical logic must...wish to own this first volume of [Goedel's] collected works, which is a worthy tribute to a great man. Feferman and his team are to be congratulated on the care, sureness of touch, and scholarly accuracy with which they have carried out their task, and we must look forward to the appearance of the subsequent volumes. --Mind Beautifully prepared, meticulously edited collection. --The Journal of Symbolic Logic The publication of this book is a significant scientific event not only in mathematical logic...but also in formal computing systems, recursive computing theory, and the possibility and limits of mechanical theorem proving...This volume is a splendid text. The original German and an excellent English translation are printed on facing pages. The introductory notes add much to the reader's understanding of the primary material, and the list of editors and contributors reads like a Who's Who of modern logic. The bibliographic references are extensive and worth explaining in themselves; they probably constitute a guide to the subject in their own right...it is an opportunity to experience firsthand the complexity, elegance, and rigor of one of the great minds of the twentieth century. I look forward to coming volumes. --Computing Reviews Both books are models of what scholarly editions of this kind should be like. . .no one working in logic or in the philosophy of mathematics should be without their own copies. --Philosophia Mathematica The writing throughout exemplifies the clarity, care and incisiveness for which its author is renowned. This is a stimulating book that can be read and reread with intellectual pleasure and profit. --Modern Logic A comprehensive edition of the 20th-century logician's work, in facing pages of German and English. This first volume covers published writings in the period 1929-36, beginning with his dissertation, which was previously only available through the University of Vienna. Each selection or group of selections is introduced. In addition, mathematician and philosopher Solomon Feferman contributes a biographical essay on Goedel's life and work. --SciTech Book News

The whole enterprise is superbly coordinated and assembled under the direction of Solomon Feferman ... The book is a tour de force and a labour of love. Superbly crafted and presented, what a bargain, given the many gems it contains! The Mathematical Gazette The books are carefully and beautifully produced and offer rich material, illuminating not only the outstanding work of Godel, but also the whole mathematical logic of the twentieth century, including some philosophical and historical aspects. EMS

""Gödel would probably have been pleased with the systematic and neat presentation. The set should be of interest to professionals and students in the areas of logic, mathematics, [and] philosophy....For all university level libraries and for large public and college library collections....Will also be a treasure in the hands of the individual who can afford and understand a good part of the contents."" --New Technical Books, The New York Public Library ""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 sweeping metaphysical claims."" --The Times Higher Education Supplement ""Should find a place in all academic libraries where mathematical logic is taught....The editors deserve the highest praise for the design of the edition.""--Choice ""Anyone interested in the life and work of Kurt Gödel, or in 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 significance of what Gödel and, in turn, mathematical logic have accomplished in this century.""--Isis ""A marvel of selfless scholarly teamwork. Under the leadership of Solomon Feferman, many of the world's most eminent logicians and historians of logic have pooled their talents to produce lucid and informative introductions, helpful notes, and clear facing-page translations. It is no small tribute to Gödel to recognize that he deserves this coordination of patient work by brilliant scholars. Equally, it is no small tribute to those who have worked on this volume to say that their efforts are worthy of their subject."" --Times Literary Supplement ""From the example of this first volume, the edition promises to be a model of its kind; virtually nothing could be bettered....The whole is beautifully produced...the translations are clear and accurate....Anyone interested in mathematical logic must...wish to own this first volume of [Gödel's] collected works, which is a worthy tribute to a great man. Feferman and his team are to be congratulated on the care, sureness of touch, and scholarly accuracy with which they have carried out their task, and we must look forward to the appearance of the subsequent volumes.""--Mind ""Beautifully prepared, meticulously edited collection."" --The Journal of Symbolic Logic ""The publication of this book is a significant scientific event not only in mathematical logic...but also in formal computing systems, recursive computing theory, and the possibility and limits of mechanical theorem proving...This volume is a splendid text. The original German and an excellent English translation are printed on facing pages. The introductory notes add much to the reader's understanding of the primary material, and the list of editors and contributors reads like a Who's Who of modern logic. The bibliographic references are extensive and worth explaining in themselves; they probably constitute a guide to the subject in their own right...it is an opportunity to experience firsthand the complexity, elegance, and rigor of one of the great minds of the twentieth century. I look forward to coming volumes.""--Computing Reviews ""Both books are models of what scholarly editions of this kind should be like. . .no one working in logic or in the philosophy of mathematics should be without their own copies."" --Philosophia Mathematica ""The writing throughout exemplifies the clarity, care and incisiveness for which its author is renowned. This is a stimulating book that can be read and reread with intellectual pleasure and profit.""--Modern Logic ""Gödel would probably have been pleased with the systematic and neat presentation. The set should be of interest to professionals and students in the areas of logic, mathematics, [and] philosophy....For all university level libraries and for large public and college library collections....Will also be a treasure in the hands of the individual who can afford and understand a good part of the contents."" --New Technical Books, The New York Public Library ""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 sweeping metaphysical claims."" --The Times Higher Education Supplement ""Should find a place in all academic libraries where mathematical logic is taught....The editors deserve the highest praise for the design of the edition.""--Choice ""Anyone interested in the life and work of Kurt Gödel, or in 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 significance of what Gödel and, in turn, mathematical logic have accomplished in this century.""--Isis ""A marvel of selfless scholarly teamwork. Under the leadership of Solomon Feferman, many of the world's most eminent logicians and historians of logic have pooled their talents to produce lucid and informative introductions, helpful notes, and clear facing-page translations. It is no small tribute to Gödel to recognize that he deserves this coordination of patient work by brilliant scholars. Equally, it is no small tribute to those who have worked on this volume to say that their efforts are worthy of their subject."" --Times Literary Supplement ""From the example of this first volume, the edition promises to be a model of its kind; virtually nothing could be bettered....The whole is beautifully produced...the translations are clear and accurate....Anyone interested in mathematical logic must...wish to own this first volume of [Gödel's] collected works, which is a worthy tribute to a great man. Feferman and his team are to be congratulated on the care, sureness of touch, and scholarly accuracy with which they have carried out their task, and we must look forward to the appearance of the subsequent volumes.""--Mind ""Beautifully prepared, meticulously edited collection."" --The Journal of Symbolic Logic ""The publication of this book is a significant scientific event not only in mathematical logic...but also in formal computing systems, recursive computing theory, and the possibility and limits of mechanical theorem proving...This volume is a splendid text. The original German and an excellent English translation are printed on facing pages. The introductory notes add much to the reader's understanding of the primary material, and the list of editors and contributors reads like a Who's Who of modern logic. The bibliographic references are extensive and worth explaining in themselves; they probably constitute a guide to the subject in their own right...it is an opportunity to experience firsthand the complexity, elegance, and rigor of one of the great minds of the twentieth century. I look forward to coming volumes.""--Computing Reviews ""Both books are models of what scholarly editions of this kind should be like. . .no one working in logic or in the philosophy of mathematics should be without their own copies."" --Philosophia Mathematica ""The writing throughout exemplifies the clarity, care and incisiveness for which its author is renowned. This is a stimulating book that can be read and reread with intellectual pleasure and profit.""--Modern Logic ""A comprehensive edition of the 20th-century logician's work, in facing pages of German and English. This first volume covers published writings in the period 1929-36, beginning with his dissertation, which was previously only available through the University of Vienna. Each selection or group of selections is introduced. In addition, mathematician and philosopher Solomon Feferman contributes a biographical essay on Gödel's life and work.""--SciTech Book News

The whole enterprise is superbly coordinated and assembled under the direction of Solomon Feferman ... The book is a tour de force and a labour of love. Superbly crafted and presented, what a bargain, given the many gems it contains! The Mathematical Gazette The books are carefully and beautifully produced and offer rich material, illuminating not only the outstanding work of Godel, but also the whole mathematical logic of the twentieth century, including some philosophical and historical aspects. EMS

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