Infinity and the Mind: The Science and Philosophy of the Infinite (GER 1983. expanded. ed. 2005)

In __Infinity and the Mind,__ Rudy Rucker leads an excursion to that stretch of the universe he calls the "Mindscape," where he explores infinity in all its forms: potential and actual, mathematical and physical, theological and mundane. Rucker acquaints us with Gödel's rotating universe, in which it is theoretically possible to travel into the past, and explains an interpretation of quantum mechanics in which billions of parallel worlds are produced every microsecond. It is in the realm of infinity, he maintains, that mathematics, science, and logic merge with the fantastic. By closely examining the paradoxes that arise from this merging, we can learn a great deal about the human mind, its powers, and its limitations. Using cartoons, puzzles, and quotations to enliven his text, Rucker guides us through such topics as the paradoxes of set theory, the possibilities of physical infinities, and the results of Gödel's incompleteness theorems. His personal encounters with Gödel the mathematician and philosopher provide a rare glimpse at genius and reveal what very few mathematicians have dared to admit: the transcendent implications of Platonic realism. In Infinity and the Mind, Rudy Rucker leads an excursion to that stretch of the universe he calls the "Mindscape," where he explores infinity in all its forms: potential and actual, mathematical and physical, theological and mundane. Rucker acquaints us with Godel's rotating universe, in which it is theoretically possible to travel into the past, and explains an interpretation of quantum mechanics in which billions of parallel worlds are produced every microsecond. It is in the realm of infinity, he maintains, that mathematics, science, and logic merge with the fantastic. By closely examining the paradoxes that arise from this merging, we can learn a great deal about the human mind, its powers, and its limitations. Using cartoons, puzzles, and quotations to enliven his text, Rucker guides us through such topics as the paradoxes of set theory, the possibilities of physical infinities, and the results of Godel's incompleteness theorems. His personal encounters with Godel the mathematician and philosopher provide a rare glimpse at genius and reveal what very few mathematicians have dared to admit: the transcendent implications of Platonic realism.

infinity And The Mind Can Be Read And Enjoyed By Experts And Nonexperts Alike. Rudy Rucker Is A Talented Logician Who Draws On His Talents As A Science-fiction Writer And Cartoonist To Convey His Ideas. This Makes For Not Only A Solid, Accurate, And Informative Book But Also A Good Read.—thomas Tymoczko, Smith College

informal, Amusing, Witty, Profound. . . . In An Extraordinary Burst Of Creative Energy, Rudy Rucker Has Managed To Bring Together Every Aspect Of Mathematical Infinity. . . . A Dizzying Glimpse Into That Boundless Region Of Blinding Light Where The Mysteries Of Transcendence Shatter The Clarity Of Logic, Set Theory, Proof Theory, And Contemporary Physics.—martin Gardner

journal For Research In Mathematics Education

it Is Difficult To Find Any Aspect Of Infinity That Is Not Explored In This Compelling Book. . . . This Memorable Book Is One To Be Kept On An Accessible Shelf After Reading It: It Will Not Leave The Reader Unaffected.

Publisher description: In Infinity and the Mind, Rudy Rucker leads an excursion to that stretch of the universe he calls the "Mindscape," where he explores infinity in all its forms: potential and actual, mathematical and physical, theological and mundane. Rucker acquaints us with Godel's rotating universe, in which it is theoretically possible to travel into the past, and explains an interpretation of quantum mechanics in which billions of parallel worlds are produced every microsecond. It is in the realm of infinity, he maintains, that mathematics, science, and logic merge with the fantastic. By closely examining the paradoxes that arise from this merging, we can learn a great deal about the human mind, its powers, and its limitations. Using cartoons, puzzles, and quotations to enliven his text, Rucker guides us through such topics as the paradoxes of set theory, the possibilities of physical infinities, and the results of Gödel's incompleteness theorems Explains an interpretation of quantum mechanics in which billions of parallel worlds are produced every microsecond. Using cartoons, puzzles, and quotations, this work guides us through topics such as the paradoxes of set theory, the possibilities of physical infinities, and the results of Godel's incompleteness theorems. The symbol for infinity that one sees most often is the lazy eight curve, technically called the lemniscate.