Gödel and physics (Q2856493)

In the main part of the article, Gödel's incompleteness theorems are considered, first of all, in order to answer the question whether these logical and, respectively, mathematical theorems have consequences for physics. After discussing some preludes and reactions of philosophers, mathematicians and physicists to them and considering the underlying assumptions of the theorems, the author comes to the conclusion ``that, just because physics makes use of mathematics, it is by no means required that Gödel places any limit on the overall scope of physics to understand the laws of nature.'' But he expects that Gödel incompleteness limits the outcomes of these laws.NEWLINENEWLINEIn a very brief section, afterwards Gödel's cosmological solution to Einstein's gravitational equations is considered, where the author appreciates its paradox features as showing ``how unusual space-times could be while remaining physically and factually consistent.'' This leads him to the so-called supertasks (``doing an infinite number of things in a finite amount of time''). Emphasizing that this topic is related to Gödel's ideas, it is finally commented on.NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 1253.00009].