Gödel's Proof - Nagel & Newman - 1958

A fun gift for your mathematically-inclined friend or family member! In this remarkable work of scientific exposition, Ernest Nagel and James Newman accomplish what many thought impossible: they make Gödel's revolutionary incompleteness theorem accessible to the general reader. Kurt Gödel's 1931 proof shook the foundations of mathematical thought by demonstrating that any formal system complex enough to express elementary arithmetic must contain statements that can neither be proved nor disproved within that system. Through crystal-clear prose and carefully constructed arguments, the authors guide readers through one of the most significant intellectual achievements of the twentieth century. They illuminate how Gödel's findings not only transformed mathematical logic but also raised profound questions about the limits of human knowledge and the nature of truth itself. Essential reading for anyone interested in mathematics, philosophy, or the fundamental mysteries of human reasoning. - Gödel's Proof - Ernest Nagel & James R. Newman. Design by Raymond Hendler. Published 1958, New York University Press, New York. Softccover. Approx. 5x8in. 118pp. In good vintage condition. Front cover has a little bit of wear; a fold is evident in the bottom right (see photo)