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Meta Math!

The Quest for Omega

The Quest for Omega

By Gregory Chaitin

By Gregory Chaitin

By Gregory Chaitin

By Gregory Chaitin

Best Seller

Category: Philosophy

Category: Philosophy

Paperback $15.95

Nov 14, 2006 | ISBN 9781400077977

Ebook $7.99

Nov 26, 2008 | ISBN 9780307488176

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    Meta Math! by Gregory Chaitin
    Paperback $15.95
    Nov 14, 2006 | ISBN 9781400077977

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      Nov 14, 2006 | ISBN 9781400077977

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      Nov 26, 2008 | ISBN 9780307488176

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    About Meta Math!

    Gregory Chaitin, one of the world’s foremost mathematicians, leads us on a spellbinding journey, illuminating the process by which he arrived at his groundbreaking theory.

    Chaitin’s revolutionary discovery, the Omega number, is an exquisitely complex representation of unknowability in mathematics. His investigations shed light on what we can ultimately know about the universe and the very nature of life. In an infectious and enthusiastic narrative, Chaitin delineates the specific intellectual and intuitive steps he took toward the discovery. He takes us to the very frontiers of scientific thinking, and helps us to appreciate the art—and the sheer beauty—in the science of math.

    About Meta Math!

    Gregory Chaitin, one of the world’s foremost mathematicians, leads us on a spellbinding journey, illuminating the process by which he arrived at his groundbreaking theory.

    Chaitin’s revolutionary discovery, the Omega number, is an exquisitely complex representation of unknowability in mathematics. His investigations shed light on what we can ultimately know about the universe and the very nature of life. In an infectious and enthusiastic narrative, Chaitin delineates the specific intellectual and intuitive steps he took toward the discovery. He takes us to the very frontiers of scientific thinking, and helps us to appreciate the art—and the sheer beauty—in the science of math.

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

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    About Gregory Chaitin

    Gregory Chaitin is widely known for his work on metamathematics and for his discovery of the celebrated Omega number, which proved the fundamental unknowability of math. He is the author of many books on mathematics, including Meta Math! The Quest… More about Gregory Chaitin

    About Gregory Chaitin

    Gregory Chaitin is widely known for his work on metamathematics and for his discovery of the celebrated Omega number, which proved the fundamental unknowability of math. He is the author of many books on mathematics, including Meta Math! The Quest… More about Gregory Chaitin

    Product Details

    Category: Philosophy

    Paperback | $15.95
    Published by Vintage
    Nov 14, 2006 | 240 Pages | 5-3/16 x 8 | ISBN 9781400077977

    Category: Philosophy

    Ebook | $7.99
    Published by Vintage
    Nov 26, 2008 | 240 Pages | ISBN 9780307488176

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    Praise

    “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

    Table Of Contents

    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

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