“A startling vision of the future of mathematics. . . . The Chaitinesque intellectual future will be eternally youthful and anarchic.”–American Scientist
“Math’s dark secret is out. . . . Chaitin explains why omega, a number he discovered thirty years ago, has him convinced that math is based on randomness.”
–Time Magazine
“Captivating. . . . With extraordinary skill and a gentle humor, Chaitin shares his profound insights.”
–Paul Davies, author of How to Build a Time Machine
“A clearly written and witty look at a difficult subject. . . . Chaitin explains with infectious enthusiasm how mathematics doesn’t equal certainty.” –Science News
Preface
Quotes by Leibniz/Galileo
Franz Kafka: Before the Law
One Introduction
Two Three Strange Loves: Primes/Gödel/LISP
Three Digital Information: DNA/Software/Leibniz
Four Intermezzo
Five The Labyrinth of the Continuum
Six Complexity, Randomness & Incompleteness
Seven Conclusion
Poem by Robert Chute
Poem by Marion Cohen
Further Reading
Appendix I
Appendix II
Index
