I’d read this explanation from Smullyan before I read about the theorem in more detail, and I don’t think Smullyan’s explanation conveys real understanding.
I know. But I thought it would be better than nothing. Such informal explanations also help to overcome the widespread belief that you need to be a genius to approach those problems.
Such informal explanations also help to overcome the widespread belief that you need to be a genius to approach those problems.
Fair point, but I think the aforementioned danger of misunderstanding is more harmful than learned helplessness with respect to math is. I’d rather people not know the theorem than misunderstand it and use said misunderstanding to wreak epistemic violence.
Scientifically, I suggest most of psychology and psychiatry (I’m looking at you, Law & Order: SVU). In a similar vein is programming/hacking (e.g. 24, any crime drama).
Godel’s incompleteness theorem
In popular culture? What misunderstandings of it have you seen?
Hmm, not popular culture. Certainly arguing with people purveying nonsense as a form of the argument “you can’t be certain therefore I might be right.”
Such informal explanations also help to overcome the widespread belief that you need to be a genius to approach those problems.
But they do so in the wrong way, but conveying a second misconception that these problems can be easily understood without bothering actually study much maths.
I know. But I thought it would be better than nothing. Such informal explanations also help to overcome the widespread belief that you need to be a genius to approach those problems.
Fair point, but I think the aforementioned danger of misunderstanding is more harmful than learned helplessness with respect to math is. I’d rather people not know the theorem than misunderstand it and use said misunderstanding to wreak epistemic violence.
A list of habitually abused scientific concepts in popular culture?
Godel’s incompleteness theorem
Schroedinger’s cat
many worlds
anything quantum really
most things about evolution
Add your own!
Scientifically, I suggest most of psychology and psychiatry (I’m looking at you, Law & Order: SVU). In a similar vein is programming/hacking (e.g. 24, any crime drama).
In popular culture? What misunderstandings of it have you seen?
Hmm, not popular culture. Certainly arguing with people purveying nonsense as a form of the argument “you can’t be certain therefore I might be right.”
Cryptography. Like, all of it.
But they do so in the wrong way, but conveying a second misconception that these problems can be easily understood without bothering actually study much maths.