A World Without Time: The Forgotten Legacy of Godel and Einstein

During and after their lifetimes, Albert Einstein was considerably more well-known publicly than Kurt Godel. Even today, there are considerably mor... (show more)

During and after their lifetimes, Albert Einstein was considerably more well-known publicly than Kurt Godel. Even today, there are considerably more books on Einstein and his contributions to physics than Godel's contributions to mathematics. But very few have dwelt upon the human and intellectual relationship between the two. Palle Yourgrau has attempted to write precisely such a book within the context of Godel's contributions to the philosophy of time. The key story underlying the book is Godel's discovery of the "disappearance of time" within Einstein's relativity theory. This conclusion is built up slowly throughout the book via brief tours of their friendship at the Institute of Advanced Studies. Contrasts are also drawn on the differences between the outlook of Einstein and Godel. The misunderstanding and neglect of Godel's contribution to the philosophy of time in terms of the disappearance of time within Einstein's relativity framework provides a sad ending to the book. The author also argues (against the views of academic philosophers) that Godel also deserves to be considered to be a philosopher (of time). In fact, one gets the impression that the author wishes to imply that significant and deep intellectual contributions - be it in mathematics, physics, even perhaps in other areas - are only possible when the thinkers are intrinsically philosophers as well. Overall, this is enjoyable book to read even for those who have read other biographies of the two intellectual giants. (show less)