From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.ecf!utgpu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!sun4nl!alchemy!plato!atten Wed Apr 22 12:03:47 EDT 1992
Article 5123 of comp.ai.philosophy:
Path: newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.ecf!utgpu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!sun4nl!alchemy!plato!atten
>From: atten@phil.ruu.nl (Mark van Atten)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Godel's Incompleteness Theorm
Message-ID: <atten.703433823@groucho.phil.ruu.nl>
Date: 16 Apr 92 14:17:03 GMT
References: <1992Apr15.160747.9350@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Sender: news@phil.ruu.nl
Organization: Department of Philosophy, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
Lines: 28
Nntp-Posting-Host: groucho.phil.ruu.nl

wlfong@logos.waterloo.edu (Philip W. L. Fong) writes:

>I am interested in knowing more about Godel's Incompleteness Theorm, especially
>the proof and its implication on the limitation of human/artificial 
>intelligence.  However I am not a theory person and I don't think I will
>understand Godel's original document.  Is there any easy-to-comprehend 
>text/reference (for an average CS student) which covers the proof and 
>discusses the implication of the theory?

>Philip

The best explanation I have found is in 'Infinitiy and the Mind ', by Rudy
Rucker. It contains both an explanation by analogy (story) and a technical
(hence more precise) explanation (also easy to comprehend, but take your time)

>From Goedel's original paper, I recommend the non-technical introduction.

Contrary to general opinion, I do not believe Hofstadter's book is the best
introduction or explanation of Goedel's argument. But once you grasp the
argument, read it for some interesting suggestions. But it is too general.

A very good discussion of the use of mathematical/logical results in arguments
about human/artificial intelligence can be found in 'From mathematics to
philosophy' by Hao Wang.

Best wishes,

Mark.


