Single Idea 9591

[catalogued under 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 5. Rationality / b. Human rationality]

Full Idea

The resources of the human intellect have not been, and cannot be, fully formalized.

Gist of Idea

The human intellect has not been, and cannot be, fully formalized

Source

E Nagel / JR Newman (Gödel's Proof [1958], VIII)

Book Reference

Nagel,E/Newman,J.R.: 'Gödel's Proof' [NYU 2001], p.112


A Reaction

This conclusion derives from Gödel's Theorem. Some people (e.g. Penrose) get over-excited by this discovery, and conclude that the human mind is supernatural. Imagination is the key - it is a feature of rationality that escapes mechanization.