Provability: The emergence of a mathematical modality (Q1176093)

The germ of the modal logic of provability, as well as the ones of many other logical disciplines, can be found in Gödel's works. In this quite interesting paper, the authors give a historical survey of the development of the modal logic of provability. Some of the basic notions and results concerning this subject are presented, followed by the corresponding bibliographical and historical facts, including sometimes relevant details related to the communication between logicians working in this field. The appendix of the paper contains Kripke's remarkable proof that the set of sentences of quantified modal logic that are valid in all transitive, converse well-founded frames is \(\Pi^ 2_ 1\)- complete. The material is presented very clearly, correctly and in a nice and understandable style.