Spring 2008 - IDS 81650: NUMBER THEORY, LOGIC, AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF MATHEMATICS [91984]
Fridays, 9:30 – 11:30 AM

Fundamental problems in logic and the philosophy of mathematics, including Gödel’s incompleteness theorems, Hilbert’s tenth problem on the unsolvability of Diophantine equations, the meaning of “proof” in mathematics, other philosophical issues in mathematics from Plato to Wittgenstein, Wigner’s "unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics," and the question of what problems in the philosophy of mathematics are important to mathematicians.

The class will be taught by:

• Melvyn Nathanson (course coordinator), Professor of Mathematics at Lehman College and the Graduate Center, [melvyn@ias.edu]

• Rohit Parikh, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Philosophy at Brooklyn College and the Raduate Center; and

• Noson Yanofsky, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center.

Open to all graduate students especially in the philosophy, computer science and mathematics departments.