[FOM] Godel's First Incompleteness Theorem as it possibly relates to Physics

[Walter Read]

   Many physicists, notably Hawking and Dyson, have doubts about a TOE for just this reason. 
Franzen's book on incompleteness has a discussion of this topic. Note that 1st 
incompleteness only guarantees incompleteness for the arithmetical component of the 
theory. 

-Walt

Walt Read
Computer Science, MS ST 109
CSU, Fresno
Fresno, CA 93740
Email: read at csufresno.edu
Tel: 559 278 4307
        559 278 4373 (dept)
Fax: 559 278 4197

http://www.csufresno.edu/csci/

----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Hart <hart.bri at gmail.com>
Date: Friday, October 10, 2008 2:35 pm
Subject: [FOM] Godel's First Incompleteness Theorem as it possibly relates	to Physics
To: fom at cs.nyu.edu

> Why doesn't Godel's 1st Incompleteness Theorem imply the
> incompleteness of any theory of physics T, assuming that T is
> consistent and uses arithmetic?  Shouldn't the constructors of the
> Theory of Everything be alarmed?  I know this suggestion of
> application of Godel's theorem was made decades ago but why didn't it
> make a bigger impact?  Is it because it is wrong or were there some
> sociological reasons for mainstream ignorance of it?
> _______________________________________________
> FOM mailing list
> FOM at cs.nyu.edu
> http://www.cs.nyu.edu/mailman/listinfo/fom
>