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Incomputability in Nature

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Computability and Models

Part of the book series: The University Series in Mathematics ((USMA))

Abstract

To what extent is incomputability relevant to the material Universe? We look at ways in which this question might be answered, and the extent to which the theory of computability, which grew out of the work of Gödel, Church, Kleene and Turing, can contribute to a clear resolution of the current confusion. It is hoped that the presentation will be accessible to the non-specialist reader.

The first author would like to acknowledge the support of EPSRC Research Grant no. GR/M 91419 “Turing Definability” during the preparation of this paper, and also the encouragement and clarification derived from a number of useful conversations with George Barmpalias while preparing the final version for publication

Both authors’ research was partially supported by INTAS-RFBR Research Grant no. 97-0139, “Computability and Models”.

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Cooper, S.B., Odifreddi, P. (2003). Incomputability in Nature. In: Computability and Models. The University Series in Mathematics. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0755-0_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0755-0_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5225-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0755-0

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