ISBN-13: 9781848900288 / Angielski / Miękka / 2011 / 226 str.
Hao Wang (1921-1995) was a prolific researcher and writer in mathematical logic, computer science, and philosophy. He is known for the close relation he developed with Kurt Godel during the last decade of the latter's life and the two books about Godel that he published after Godel's death. This volume of essays covers to some extent each of these fields of Wang's activity but with greatest emphasis on philosophy. Wang spent the first twenty-five years of his life in China and continued to identify himself as Chinese, and in later years he returned to China several times. The volume adds to the picture of the Chinese side of Wang and his engagement with the intellectual life of his own country during a turbulent period. Wang's writings in Chinese are surveyed, and two translations are included of short essays on two Chinese scholars, his teacher Jin Yuelin and his friend from student days He Zhaowu, as well as a short memoir of Wang by He, written shortly after Wang's death. Another writing of Wang published for the first time is an edition with introduction of an exposition by Wang of Godel's views on sets and concepts. Essays on Wang and his work include a memoir of collaboration with him on Godel's philosophy by Eckehart Kohler, an account of two classic contributions to computer science and logic by Martin Davis, and essays by Abner Shimony on his distinctive view of the nature and method of philosophy and by Juliet Floyd on his reflections on the philosophy of Wittgenstein, who fascinated Wang partly because of the contrast between his views and Godel's."
Hao Wang (1921-1995) was a prolific researcher andwriter in mathematical logic, computer science, andphilosophy. He is known for the close relation hedeveloped with Kurt Gödel during the last decade of thelatters life and the two books about Gödel that hepublished after Gödels death. This volume of essayscovers to some extent each of these fields of Wangsactivity but with greatest emphasis on philosophy.Wang spent the first twenty-five years of his life in Chinaand continued to identify himself as Chinese, and in lateryears he returned to China several times. The volumeadds to the picture of the Chinese side of Wang and hisengagement with the intellectual life of his own countryduring a turbulent period. Wangs writings in Chineseare surveyed, and two translations are included of shortessays on two Chinese scholars, his teacher Jin Yuelinand his friend from student days He Zhaowu, as well asa short memoir of Wang by He, written shortly afterWangs death.Another writing of Wang published for the first time isan edition with introduction of an exposition by Wang ofGödels views on sets and concepts. Essays on Wangand his work include a memoir of collaboration with himon Gödels philosophy by Eckehart Köhler, an account oftwo classic contributions to computer science and logicby Martin Davis, and essays by Abner Shimony on hisdistinctive view of the nature and method of philosophyand by Juliet Floyd on his reflections on the philosophyof Wittgenstein, who fascinated Wang partly because ofthe contrast between his views and Gödels.