On a Problem of Formal Logic.

RAMSEY, Frank Plumpton.

Published by London: The London Mathematical Society, 1928

About this Item

Offprint of a paper read by Ramsey to the London Mathematical Society on December 13 1928, "primarily concerned with a special case of one of the problems of mathematical logic, the problem of finding a regular procedure to determine the truth or falsity of any given logical formula" p. 264.) This problem is commonly known as the Entscheidungsproblem, or "decision problem", and had been a source of keen debate among logicians before it was proven by Kurt Gödel in 1931 and Alonzo Church in 1936 that David Hilbert, and the other members of the formalist school of anti-logistic mathematics, were mistaken: all arithmetic systems must contain propositions which are not provable in that system. "Ramsey's main interest in mathematics was in its foundations. His 'The foundations of mathematics', read to the London Mathematical Society on 12 November 1925, was the culmination of the reduction of mathematics to logic undertaken in Russell's and Whitehead's Principia mathematica (1913). On mathematics itself he published only eight pages, 'On a problem of formal logic' (read to the London Mathematical Society on 13 December 1928), but this has since become the basis of a branch of mathematics known as Ramsey theory" (ODNB.) Risse III, 132. Octavo, pages [263]-286 + final blank leaf. Wire-stitched as issued in printed grey paper wrappers. Staples slightly corroded, else a very good copy.

Seller Inventory # 133471

Bibliographic Details

• Title: On a Problem of Formal Logic.
• Publisher: London: The London Mathematical Society, 1928
• Edition: 1st Edition