Originally Posted by True_Blue It's a mistake to say that a mathematical principle principle like the one Godel described doesn't work in the real world.
It does work in the real world, but because it deals with finite state machines and deductive reasoning, it is only applicable to real-world applications like computers. It has very few applications to physics, cosmology, chemistry, biology or other sciences as they do not make use of finite state machines, and do not attempt to codify a series of axioms which must be both complete and capable of validating themselves.
I firmly believe this paradigm that Godel describes tells us what we are capable of understanding, and what we are incapable of understanding, and knowing the limits of what our mind can understand is incredibly liberating, but humbling at the same time.
This isn't what Godel's theorem says. It doesn't say anything about understanding or limits of knowledge or the mind. It just says that any axiomatic system cannot prove itself and still be consistent.
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