Gödel’s Proof.

NAGEL, Ernest and James R. Newman [Stephen Hawking].

$1,750.00

Item Number: 119482

London: Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd, 1964.

Early printing of this work on Godel, from the library of physicist Stephen Hawking. Stephen Hawking was a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge at the time of his death. Hawking’s scientific works included a collaboration with Roger Penrose on gravitational singularity theorems in the framework of general relativity and the theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation, often called Hawking radiation. He was the first to set out a theory of cosmology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. Hawking may be one of the most recognizable of theoretical physicists in part due to ALS, which gradually paralyzed him over the decades. After the loss of his speech, he was able to communicate through a speech-generating device—initially through use of a handheld switch, and eventually by using a single cheek muscle. He is also well known since he achieved commercial success with several works of popular science in which he discussed his theories and cosmology in general. His book A Brief History of Time appeared on the Sunday Times bestseller list for a record-breaking 237 weeks. The Universe in a Nutshell, which many consider a sequel to A Brief History, explains to a general audience various matters such as Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem. Hawking also gave a sold-out lecture at Texas A&M University entitled “Gödel and the End of Physics” in which he said, “Gödel’s theorem ensured there would always be a job for mathematicians. I think M theory will do the same for physicists.” This book was likely used in Hawking’s research in writing The Universe in a Nutshell and his other writings on this topic. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. A wonderful association.

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.