Single Idea 17809

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 5. The Infinite / a. The Infinite]

Full Idea

Usually Gödel's incompleteness theorems are taken as showing a limitation on the syntactic approach to an understanding of the concept of infinity.

Gist of Idea

Gödel showed that the syntactic approach to the infinite is of limited value

Source

Georg Kreisel (Hilbert's Programme [1958], 05)

Book Reference

'Philosophy of Mathematics: readings (2nd)', ed/tr. Benacerraf/Putnam [CUP 1983], p.212