Hilbert's Program Then and Now
From MaRDI portal
Publication:6475950
DOI10.1016/B978-044451541-4/50014-2arXivmath/0508572MaRDI QIDQ6475950FDOQ6475950
Authors: Richard Zach 
Publication date: 29 August 2005
Abstract: Hilbert's program was an ambitious and wide-ranging project in the philosophy and foundations of mathematics. In order to "dispose of the foundational questions in mathematics once and for all, "Hilbert proposed a two-pronged approach in 1921: first, classical mathematics should be formalized in axiomatic systems; second, using only restricted, "finitary" means, one should give proofs of the consistency of these axiomatic systems. Although Godel's incompleteness theorems show that the program as originally conceived cannot be carried out, it had many partial successes, and generated important advances in logical theory and meta-theory, both at the time and since. The article discusses the historical background and development of Hilbert's program, its philosophical underpinnings and consequences, and its subsequent development and influences since the 1930s.
Philosophical and critical aspects of logic and foundations (03A05) History of mathematics in the 20th century (01A60) Philosophy of mathematics (00A30)
This page was built for publication: Hilbert's Program Then and Now
Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q6475950)
