Mathematical Undecidability, Quantum Nonlocality and the Question of the Existence of God

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

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2. Mathematics and Undecidability

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. How Can or Should the Recent Developments in Mathematics Influence the Philosophy of Mathematics?

      • Hans-Christian Reichel

      Pages 3-14

   3. Number and Randomness: Algorithmic Information Theory — New Results on the Foundations of Mathematics

      • Gregory J. Chaitin

      Pages 15-25

   4. Meaning, Reality and Algorithms: Implications of the Turing Theorem

      • Filippo Cacace

      Pages 27-40

   5. The Limits of Mathematical Reasoning: In Arithmetic there will always be Unsolved Solvable Problems

      • Antoine Suarez

      Pages 41-48

   6. Mathematics: A Pointer to an Independent Reality

      • Juleon M. Schins

      Pages 49-56

3. Physics and Nonlocality

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 57-57

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   2. A Critical Approach to Complexity and Self Organization

      • F. T. Arecchi

      Pages 59-81

   3. Indeterminism and Nonlocality

      • John S. Bell

      Pages 83-100

   4. Nonlocality and the Principle of Free Experimentation

      • Paul Pliska

      Pages 101-119

   5. Optical Tests of Bell’s Theorem

      • A. M. Fox

      Pages 121-142

   6. Nonlocal Phenomena: Physical Explanation and Philosophical Implications

      • Antoine Suarez

      Pages 143-172

   7. Quantum Theory: A Pointer to an Independent Reality

      • Juleon M. Schins

      Pages 173-182

4. Science, Meta-Science and the Existence of God

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 183-183

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   2. Scientism and Scientific Knowledge of Things and God

      • Jacques Laeuffer

      Pages 185-191

   3. Physics and the Mind of God

      • Paul Davies

      Pages 193-202

   4. The Question of the Existence of God in the Book of Stephen Hawking: a Brief History of Time

      • Alfred Driessen

      Pages 203-213

   5. Final Remarks: Becoming Aware of our Fundamental Limits in Knowing and Doing, Implications for the Question of the Existence of God

      • Alfred Driessen, Antoine Suarez

      Pages 215-218

5. Back Matter

   Pages 219-227

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On January 22, 1990, the late John Bell held at CERN (European Laboratory for Particle Physics), Geneva a seminar organized by the Center of Quantum Philosophy, that at this time was an association of scientists interested in the interpretation of quantum mechanics. In this seminar Bell presented once again his famous theorem. Thereafter a discussion took place in which not only physical but also highly speculative epistemological and philosophical questions were vividly debated. The list of topics included: assumption of free will in Bell's theorem, the understanding of mind, the relationship between the mathematical and the physical world, the existence of unobservable causes and the limits of human knowledge in mathematics and physics. Encouraged by this stimulating discussion some of the participants decided to found an Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (lIS) to promote philosoph­ ical and interdisciplinary reflection on the advances of science. Meanwhile the lIS has associated its activities with the Swiss foundation, Fondation du Leman, and the Dutch foundation, Stichting Instudo, registered in Geneva and Amsterdam, respectively. With its activities the lIS intends to strengthen the unity between the professional activities in science and the reflection on fun­ damental philosophical questions. In addition the interdisciplinary approach is expected to give a contribution to the progress of science and the socio­ economic development. At present three working groups are active within the lIS, i. e. : - the Center for Quantum Philosophy, - the Wealth Creation and Sustainable Development Group, - the Neural Science Group.

• The Philosophy of Mathematics
• quantum theory
• science

• Department of Applied Physics, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

  Alfred Driessen

• The Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, Geneva and Zurich, Switzerland

  Antoine Suarez

Policies and ethics