ABSTRACT
Few theorems of pure mathematics have attracted much attention outside the field of mathematics itself. In recent years, we have seen Fermat’s Last Theorem attract the interest of the general public through its much-publicized final proof by Andrew Wiles, and many nonmathematicians could probably state and illustrate the theorem of Pythagoras, about the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle, which made it into a song performed by Danny Kaye (with music by Saul Chaplin and lyrics by John Mercer). But it is most likely safe to say that no mathematical theorem has aroused as much interest among nonmathematicians as Go¨del’s incompleteness theorem, which appeared in 1931. The popular impact that this theorem has had in the last few decades can be seen on the Internet, where there are thousands of discussion groups dedicated to every topic under the sun. In any such group, it seems, somebody will sooner or later invoke Go¨del’s incompleteness theorem. One finds such invocations not only in discussion groups dedicated to logic, mathematics, computing, or philosophy, where one might expect them, but also in groups devoted to politics, religion, atheism, poetry, evolution, hip-hop, dating, and what have you. Interest in the incompleteness theorem is not confined to the Internet. In printed books and articles, we find the incompleteness theorem invoked or discussed not only by philosophers, mathematicians, and logicians, but by theologians, physicists, literary critics, photographers, architects, and others, and it has also inspired poetry and music.
