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Author Topic:   Godel's Theorem
anglagard
Member (Idle past 864 days)
Posts: 2339
From: Socorro, New Mexico USA
Joined: 03-18-2006


Message 16 of 18 (306017)
04-22-2006 8:02 PM
Reply to: Message 9 by Chiroptera
04-22-2006 11:44 AM


That was fun.
"What is the exact postion and the exact momentum of this particular electron at this particular time?" is another question that makes no sense (even though it seems reasonable to people who have not been trained in quantum mechanics -- and even to many people who do understand quantum mechanics).
So particle and wave are therefore misnomers at this level. Sounds like a good response to me.
As one member has already pointed out, Godel proved that in any logical system that can produce ordinary arithmetic, there are statements that can neither be proved nor disproved.
He also proved that no logical system that can produce ordinary arithmetic can prove its own consistency.
The first means that one cannot come up with a finite set of axioms by which all other mathematical statements can be proven or disproven.
The second means that there is always the possibility that mathematics as we know it might be inconsistent. Probably not, but we cannot completely be sure of it.
Unless you are a Platonist, though, these theorems have only limited implications for real life.
Must agree, my characterization of Godel's Incompleteness Theorems was off.
Thanks for clearing up such misunderstandings concerning both principles. I have heard these used in formal and informal settings and now know a better way to understand both.
Also, my purpose in this post was to determine if I was off. I was, so that has been answered. I am still, as always, pro-science.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 9 by Chiroptera, posted 04-22-2006 11:44 AM Chiroptera has not replied

  
nwr
Member
Posts: 6412
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005
Member Rating: 4.5


Message 17 of 18 (306018)
04-22-2006 8:06 PM
Reply to: Message 7 by cavediver
04-22-2006 9:47 AM


And as a weak(ish ) Platonist, that certainly concerns my Universe!
I'm a platonist is practice only, certainly not in principle
Hmmm, I would definitely like to know the truth or falsity of the Continuum Hypothesis...
My current view is that this is not a meaningful problem.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 7 by cavediver, posted 04-22-2006 9:47 AM cavediver has not replied

  
cavediver
Member (Idle past 3671 days)
Posts: 4129
From: UK
Joined: 06-16-2005


Message 18 of 18 (306069)
04-23-2006 5:14 AM
Reply to: Message 9 by Chiroptera
04-22-2006 11:44 AM


"What color is angular momentum"
Perfect In my Message 3 I was looking for precisely this sort of question, but I was struggling... thinking too hard I think!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 9 by Chiroptera, posted 04-22-2006 11:44 AM Chiroptera has not replied

  
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