back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 12456

[from 'On the Infinite' by David Hilbert, in 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 1. Mathematics ]

Full Idea

The goal of my theory is to establish once and for all the certitude of mathematical methods.

Gist of Idea

I aim to establish certainty for mathematical methods

Source

David Hilbert (On the Infinite [1925], p.184)

Book Reference

'Philosophy of Mathematics: readings (2nd)', ed/tr. Benacerraf/Putnam [CUP 1983], p.184


A Reaction

This is the clearest statement of the famous Hilbert Programme, which is said to have been brought to an abrupt end by Gödel's Incompleteness Theorems.